Yesterday,
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families along with four private foundations (the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family
Programs and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation) named
five state and local partners
for a new $35 million initiative to stabilize fragile families and keep
children out of foster care. Funding will be provided to test new
models for preventing foster care placements by placing highly fragile
families in supportive housing that integrates needed social and health
services.
This
initiative, in large part, is based on a successful 2007 pilot in New
York City known as Keeping Families Together, which was funded by one of
the aforementioned private foundations (the RWJF) and implemented by
the Corporation for Supportive Housing. The pilot paired supportive
housing with on-site case management and a comprehensive array of
services for families experiencing chronic homelessness, substance abuse
and mental health problems, and child welfare involvement.
Each
expansion site will receive $5 million and technical assistance over
five years to adapt this approach within their community. Their models
will be evaluated to measure impact on housing stability, health, social
and emotional outcomes among children and caregivers, as well as the
need for involvement with the child welfare system.
As
previously reported,
CWLA supports the emphasis on integrating systems of care, which
together can serve families who come to the attention of the child
welfare system with complex, yet unique needs.
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