About This Program
Target Population:
African American children and families involved with the child welfare system
For parents/caregivers of children ages:
0 – 17
Program Overview
MYFI in Polk County, Iowa, aims to reduce the proportion of African-American children in the child welfare system. Public child welfare staff addresses needs and concerns of African-American families and engages them as team members from the beginning of the case by utilizing Pre- and Post-Removal Family Conferencing and Family Team Meetings (facilitated by African-American workers). Parent Partners (alumni of the child welfare system) serve as guides and advocates for child welfare involved families. Culturally competent services, resources and support for families, training for staff, and flexible dollars used to meet family needs are also important elements of the program.
Program Goals
The goals of Minority Youth and Family Initiative for African-Americans (MYFI) are:
- Decrease in proportion of African-American children in child welfare system
- Increase in satisfaction of African-American families served by child welfare system
Logic Model
The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Minority Youth and Family Initiative for African-Americans (MYFI).
Essential Components
The essential components of Minority Youth and Family Initiative for African-Americans (MYFI) include:
- Pre-removal conferencing
- Post-removal conferencing (within 24 hours of removal)
- Family Team Meetings
- African-American facilitators for Family Team Meetings and conferencing
- Parent Partners (alumni of the child welfare system serving as guides and advocates)
- Culturally relevant and supportive services, resources, training, and programs
- Flexible dollars used to support families in a variety of ways (e.g., emergency utility payments, gas money to aid parenting interaction time, etc.)
Program Delivery
Parent/Caregiver Services
Minority Youth and Family Initiative for African-Americans (MYFI) directly provides services to parents/caregivers and addresses the following:
- Referral to the public child welfare system. Associated symptoms vary from substance abuse and domestic violence to poverty to mental health issues, etc.
Services Involve Family/Support Structures:
This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual's treatment:
Family Team Meetings and Pre-Removal Conferencing are utilized to identify and maintain family supports. Parent partners/Community Partnership for Protecting Children may also be utilized.
Recommended Intensity:
1-2 hours per week with family team meeting, parent partner contacts, and other referrals based on need
Recommended Duration:
2-3 months
Delivery Settings
This program is typically conducted in a(n):
- Birth Family Home
- Hospital
- Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
Homework
This program does not include a homework component.
Resources Needed to Run Program
The typical resources for implementing the program are:
Trained social workers and family group conferencing facilitators
Manuals and Training
Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications
BA for child welfare workers; prefer MSW for supervisors
Manual Information
There
is
a manual that describes how to deliver this program.
Training Information
There
is
training available for this program.
Training Contact:
Training Type/Location:
Provided on-site, usually through contract for strengths-based culturally competent practice
Number of days/hours:
1-2 days
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research
Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Minority Youth and Family Initiative for African-Americans (MYFI).
Additional References
Derezotes, D. M., Richardson, B., King, C. B., Kleinschmit, J., & Pratt, B. (2011). Evaluating multi-systemic efforts to impact disproportionality through key decision points. In Green, D. K., Belanger, K., McRoy, R., & Bullard L. B. (Eds.), Challenging racial disproportionality in child welfare: Research, policy, and practice. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
Richardson, B. (2011). Comparative analysis of two community-based efforts designed to impact disproportionality. In Green, D. K., Belanger, K., Bullard L. B., & McRoy, R. G. (Eds.), The practice of social work: Addressing racial disproportionality and disparity of outcomes in child welfare. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
Richardson, B. (2010). Measuring strategies to reduce disparities: Utilizing the Disproportionality Diagnostic Tool. Special issue on child welfare and juvenile justice disproportionality/disparity. The Journal of Health & Human Services Administration.
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: October 2023
Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: December 2011
Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: December 2011
