Protocols for Working with Families referred from Child Welfare
The Healthy Families America (HFA) model serves families with varying needs, and has since inception been specifically designed to serve families with high levels of stress including those referred from child welfare.
HFA provides sites with extra technical assistance to support community level work with child welfare referred families. This ensures sites will maintain the expected rigor and fidelity requirements providers have expected from HFA for almost 30 years. HFA sites that utilize the protocols for working with families referred from child welfare are able to extend enrollment for families with a child up to 24 months of age referred by the child welfare system. This is in keeping with the model’s original design to offer services up to the time the child is five years of age. Consistent with HFA requirements, voluntary services will be offered for a minimum of three years, regardless of the age of the child at intake, and support will be tailored to the unique needs of each family.
We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting families, so our focus on the relationship between the parent/caregiver and child means that we approach each family in a uniquely supportive way.
HFA’s evidence of effectiveness and the flexibility of enrollment make HFA a great prevention choice for states and child welfare organizations seeking to strengthen families and reduce the number of children placed in foster care.
Family First Prevention Services Act
The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) gives states, territories, and tribes the option to use child welfare programming funds (Title IV-E federal funds) for evidence-based preventive services. The Healthy Families America (HFA) model has received the highest possible rating of “well-supported” through the Prevention Services Clearinghouse, and many states are considering including the HFA model as part of their prevention plan.
Healthy Families America Prevents Child Abuse and Neglect
Curious about our impact in the area of Child Abuse and Neglect? Read more here. Notable statistics include: First time moms who enrolled in HFA early in pregnancy were 49% less likely to experience an indicated Child Protective Services (CPS) report. Evidence also demonstrates that HFA prevents the recurrence of child maltreatment by 1/3 among families with prior CPS involvement.
Why we developed the Child Welfare Protocols
While HFA works with all families, the program best serves those who are high-risk and overburdened, including those who have been involved in the child welfare system.
Child welfare providers working on the front lines each day recognize the value of connecting high-risk families to intensive home visiting services like HFA. , Over the years the National Office has worked with local HFA providers to guide implementation when working with child welfare referred families.
HFA’s guidance is expressed through our child welfare protocols, which maintain existing model requirements while offering additional guidance related to enrollment, caseload management, and establishing a formal MOU with child welfare in order to best serve families. Consistent with HFA requirements, support services will be offered for a minimum of three years, regardless of the age of the child at intake, and as a model originally designed to support families with children through age five, this allows sites to enroll families referred by child welfare up to age twenty-four months.
Want to utilize these Protocols?
Existing HFA sites and state systems interested in learning more should contact their HFA Training & Technical Assistance Specialist at the national office.
Organizations not yet affiliated with HFA and interested in learning more should email hfamail@preventchildabuse.org, and one of our Site Development Specialists will contact you.
Want to contact us?
Interested in learning more about our home visiting programs or helping transform childhoods and communities? Get in touch—we’ll respond as quickly as we can.