The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Family Connections (FC) program has been rated by the CEBC in the areas of: Casework Practice, Interventions for Neglect and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Secondary).

• Child Welfare Outcomes: Safety and Child/Family Well-Being
• Type of Maltreatment: Physical Neglect
• Target Population: Families at risk for child emotional and physical neglect.

FC is a multi-faceted, community-based service program that works with families in their homes and in the context of their neighborhoods. The goal of FC is to help these families meet the basic needs of their children and reduce the risk of child neglect. Nine practice principles guide FC interventions: community outreach; individualized family assessment; tailored interventions; helping alliance; empowerment approaches; strengths perspective; cultural competence; developmental appropriateness; and outcome-driven service plans. Individualized family intervention is geared to increase protective factors, decrease risk factors, and target child safety and well-being outcomes.The core components of FC include: (a) emergency assistance/concrete services; (b) home-based family intervention (e.g., family assessment, outcome-driven service plans, individual and family counseling); (c) service coordination with referrals targeted toward risk (e.g., substance abuse treatment) and protective factors (e.g., mentoring program); and (d) multi-family supportive recreational activities (e.g., theme-based gatherings such as Black History month, trips to museums, etc.).