Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Draft 6/4/04)

The Cabinet realized and emphasizes more than ever that well designed, coordinated community-level responses to address individual needs achieve more appropriate outcomes for children and families. In Kentucky, the Federal Community Based Child Abuse Protection Grant, previously the Community Based Family Resource and Support Grant, and Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Federal Social Security Act “Promoting Safe and Stable Families” are combined into the community Collaboration for Child (CCC). Title IV-B, Subpart, provides funding for efforts that are commu8nity based, promotes the safety and well-being of children and families, and is designed to increase the strength and stability of families. Consistent with the well-being and safety outcomes of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), the Community Based Child Abuse Protection Grant provides funding to support a statewide network of community based, prevention focused services for families and children. These services are provided through regional networks which consist of public, private, and non-profit service agencies, as well as representation from the court system, family support providers, early childhood council and family resource/youth service centers. Services that are provided include supervised visitation, transportation, parenting classes, Family Team Meeting Facilitators, intensive in-home services, child and adolescent mental health screening, adult mental health and substance abuse screening, substance abuse case management (Jefferson region only) and community (neighborhood-based) networking services to ensure that children can remain in their home or when children have been removed from the home, they are reunited with their family whenever possible. Each region is allotted a specific amount of funds for services, regional network activities, and administrative costs.

During the next five years, CCC will continue our collaborative efforts with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, present Shaken Baby Syndrome training, collaborate with the Medical Examiner’s Office to develop a public awareness campaign that expresses the dangers of co-sleeping with infants, coordinate Kentucky’s statewide fatherhood conference, as well as a Marriage Enrichment Conference. CCC will also pilot a new Parental Involvement Support Group for rural parents.