Families need assistance in identifying and accessing resources to meet basic needs and in securing community-based family support services. Child welfare and family resource and support organizations can work together to improve outcomes for families by referring child welfare clients to family resource programs and providing linkages between programs that serve the same clients. Program developers should think strategically about how fragmented service arrays can be joined to form a continuum of supports and services for families. Resources include State and local examples.
Community-Based Family Support: Exemplars With Implementation and Evaluation Strategies (PDF - 1,393 KB)
Casey Family Programs (2016)
Focuses on the need for community-based initiatives, lessons learned regarding implementation and design, and promising evaluation strategies. The brief also includes recommendations and cautions around governance, collaboration, decision-making, sustainability, and community engagement.
Family Support Overview
National Family Support Network
Introduces family support and family strengthening in the United States and offers information on family support programs, including parenting classes, support groups, life-skills training, and more.
State and local examples
Child Protection: Working Together as Community Partners
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Presents information about a collaborative effort in Michigan to support sustainable, community-based services targeted to families involved in substantiated, low-to-medium-risk child protection cases or who have unsubstantiated referrals to child protective services.
Community & Prevention
SAY (Social Advocates for Youth) San Diego
Provides information about SAY's resource centers and programs, which address a variety of family needs in the San Diego area.
Community Based Parenting Education
Child & Family Service
Presents information about a free, community-based parenting program provided through the Hawaii State Department of Health. The program focuses on positive parenting approaches to enhance parent-child interactions and relationships.
Community-Based Care
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Explores how Texas uses community-based care to provide foster care and case management services to meets the individual needs of children, youth, and families.
Early Childhood and Family Support
National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice
Describes the importance of family support services that enable and empower families to successfully nurture their children.
Family Resources and Support
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Describes services that offer parents education on positive parenting practices to minimize risk factors, promote healthy child development, improve school readiness, and help families build stronger neighborhoods and communities.
Family Support
One Hope United
Describes how One Hope United provides family preservation, counseling, and other programs to help parents and guardians learn to identify and prevent potential patterns of abuse or neglect.
Parenting Resources & Support
Family Services of Tulare County
Provides information about a spectrum of parenting education resources that keep children safe by equipping parents with healthy, well-balanced parenting skills. Parent educators teach free parenting classes for community members and visit homes or correctional facilities to work with parents.