NCJ Number
160072
Date Published
1995
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Michigan's Families First Program was created in response to growing public concern over the statewide increase in child abuse, neglect, and delinquency cases; the Michigan Department of Social Services (MDSS) implemented the program in 1988 as an innovative alternative to traditional programs such as foster care.
Abstract
The Families First Program provides families in crisis with a broad range of support services on an intensive, short-term basis. The program attempts to stabilize families by addressing underlying sources of stress that often lead to neglect and/or violence. Many program services are offered in the home, allowing caseworkers to strengthen, empower, and preserve families. Families who have children at imminent risk of removal from the home are referred to the program by MDSS staff. A caseworker contacts the family within an average of 28 hours. Over the next 4 to 6 weeks, the family receives intensive services in such areas as parenting, financial management, transportation, and job skills. Confidential surveys of referring workers, program staff, and participating families revealed a high level of satisfaction with the program. In particular, 82 percent of participating families reported improved communication and more appropriate discipline and care of children. When compared to a matched group of 225 children previously placed in foster care, 225 families in the Families First Program evidenced a consistently lower out-of- home placement rate 3 to 30 months following intervention. Recommendations to enhance the Families First Program are offered that focus on program integrity, outcome monitoring, service effectiveness, net widening, and followup using the MDSS management information system. 3 tables and 4 graphs