Informational & Practice Publications, Resources, & Tools
NRCPFC Evidence-Based Practice Overview: HOMEBUILDERS
The purpose of this NRCPFC document is to provide a brief overview of HOMEBUILDERS based on the information available in The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). (August 2013)
NRCPFC Information Packet:Mental Health Services to Families in their Homes to Protect Children and Prevent Removal
This NRCPFC Information Packet provides an overview of protecting children in homes with families that suffer from mental health issues, and includes the following sections: Facts and Statistics; Policy and Legislation; Best Practice Tips and Identification of Model Programs; Websites and Resources; and, Bibliography. This publication was authored by Amy-Louise Henderson. (May 2009)
Family Preservation Programs
Since the term "family preservation services" was coined in the 1980s, there has been considerable confusion about the essential elements of these services and which types of programs fall into this category. Although family preservation programs share many common characteristics, they vary considerably with respect to auspices (public or private agencies), theoretical orientation, target population, identified problem, and primary location of service. Programs also vary dramatically in terms of intensity, duration, caseloads, and teaming with other professionals or paraprofessionals. Few of these programs have undergone strenuous evaluation, and it is therefore difficult to compare them on the basis of proven results. However, we can provide some points of comparison, along with information that can help public and Tribal child welfare agencies seek out additional material that may be of interest to them. Neither the Children's Bureau nor the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections endorses any of these programs. We present this information for you to use in developing your own understanding of these services. Please note that this list of programs is not intended to be comprehensive, and evidence-based and evidence-informed family preservations programs are not limited to those models listed here. (2008)
NRCPFC Information Packet: Parental Rights and Keeping Families Together with Family Support Services
This NRCPFC Information Packet includes a brief summary on Family Support Services. It then provides four facts sheets: Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics; Demographics and Effects of Out of Home Care; Parental Rights and Children’s Rights; and, What is Family Support? The next section provides a listing of policies and legislation that affect parental rights and aim to keep families together. This info packet closes with a list of model programs, websites, and a bibliography. This publication was authored by Lihi Prywes. (May 2006)
Training & Curricula
Cross-Sector Families
A cross-sector family is one who is impacted by multiple issues simultaneously and is interfacing with several service delivery systems. The National Family Preservation Network developed a family reunification assessment tool which has been used in conjunction with time-limited, intensive reunification services, and has had a very high success rate so far. This PowerPoint presentation outlines the principles involved in working with cross-sector families.
Teleconferences, Webinars, Webcasts & Videos
Partnering with Families and Communities
This free NRCPFC webcast, which was filmed at the Magnolia Place Family Center in Los Angeles, California, focused on community-based initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect by meeting the needs of families. NRCPFC Director Dr. Gerald P. Mallon spoke with administrators, staff, and parents who are a part of the Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project (PIDP) in Los Angeles about their experiences with this approach. Presenters explored how neighborhood-based agencies/centers can partner with each other and with families to become an integrated, positive part of community life. Presenters discussed the following three strategies to support positive outcomes for children, youth, and families: decreasing social isolation by connecting families to each other; addressing issues of economic security; and, increasing access to available resources. (2013)
Digital Stories: Systems of Care
These stories represent the voices of community members who have been directly impacted by Systems of Care through Multnomah Education Service District and Wraparound Oregon: Early Childhood. Supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Systems of Care is a model that coordinates a network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with social, emotional, and behavioral health needs and their families.
*Many of these resources were developed previously by the
National Resource Center for
Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC).
Informational & Practice Publications, Resources, & Tools
PS ToolKit: A comprehensive guide for establishing & strengthening Intensive Family Preservation Services
The National Family Preservation Network has produced this Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) ToolKit as a comprehensive resource guide for the development and maintenance of strong and effective IFPS services. The ToolKit includes definitions, history, benefits, standards, performance measures, federal funding sources, payment structure for contractors, latest research, step-down services, evaluation measures, success stories, and resources for IFPS. There is also information on IFPS as it applies to reunification services, including a proposed model for Intensive Family Reunification Services (IFRS). (2009)
Research & Reports
A Ten-Year Review of Family Preservation Research: Building the Evidence Base
This report from Casey Family Programs, prepared by Kristine Nelson, Barbara Walters, Don Schweitzer, Betty J. Blythe, and Peter J. Pecora, reviews the main research findings over the past 30 years for intensive family preservation services with particular focus on the last decade and describes the methodological challenges that have been encountered. They end the report with concrete recommendations as to how future research can advance the design and use of this model. (January 2009)
Training & Curricula
Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework Online Training
The National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds has launched an online training to support implementation of the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework. This curriculum includes materials on partnering with parents and addresses promising strategies to strengthen families for practitioners in multiple settings. There are 7 courses: Introduction to the Protective Factors; Concrete Support in Times of Need; Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development; Parental Resilience; Social Connections; Social and Emotional Competence; and, Moving from Knowledge to Action: Wrap-up Course.
