Testing Two Innovative Approaches: Summaries of Practice Project Presentations Given at the Conference (From Children in the Shadows: The Face of Children in Neglecting Families, P 127- 130, 1995, Esther Wattenberg, ed. -- See NCJ-161723)

• NCJ Number: 161728
• Author(s): P AuClaire; C E Jackson
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 4 pages
• Sale Source: University of Minnesota
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Proceedings of a conference at the University of Minnesota, 1994, Minneapolis

Annotation

Two innovative approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect are described, the Family Options Demonstration Project and Project Empowerment, both in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Abstract

The Family Options Project is based on a community approach. Families who are judged by child protection services (CPS) as being at risk for continued child abuse or neglect are offered the opportunity to voluntarily receive prevention and early intervention services for up to 12 months. Services are offered by various community-based social service agencies. Families who choose to participate develop their own service plans with the assistance of a host community service agency. The Family Options Project allocates $3,500 for each family, and the project's demonstration phase covered the 1993-1995 period. Project Empowerment is a four-phase treatment program for families who have been identified as chronically neglectful. The four phases involve parenting skills, family training in case management, family decisionmaking, and reinforcement of positive experiences. Involvement of the entire family in the treatment plan acknowledges the importance of all family members. Through a combination of group work, home-based services, and peer support services, Project Empowerment helps families focus on their strengths and play an active role in resolving issues that have contributed to their CPS involvement. Issues presented by families include homelessness, medical neglect, educational neglect, chemical dependency, failure to protect children from physical and sexual abuse, and depression.