“My worker really put me on
my feet. She searched energetically for resources. She didn’t assume
that I knew absolutely nothing at all. She asked first or offered a suggestion
then helped me to follow-up on it. She showed respect for my family.”
Purpose
The family preservation programs support
families to improve parenting and to address their life challenges. The goal
of the program is to improve family functioning so children will receive appropriate
care and the family will be able to remain intact.
Who We
Serve
Our
Family Preservation Programs serves families with children at risk
of removal from their homes because of child abuse or neglect.
All
referrals to our San Francisco Family Preservation Program come from the Department
of Human Services, who has funded this program since 1991.
In
Alameda County we provide services through our Family Reclaim Program (funded
in part by the County‘s Social Services Agency) and through Another
Road to Safety (funded by Every Child Counts).
Services Offered
The intensive, home-based services of the
family preservation program are individualized to each family’s needs.
Social workers carry small caseloads in order to meet regularly and often
with each family. Services may include the following:
Teaching
effective parenting skills
Demonstrating
appropriate infant and childcare
Teaching
household and money management
Offering
nutritional guidance
Providing
supportive counseling and crisis intervention
Assisting
in meeting basic needs (food, clothing, diapers, etc.)
Assisting
in locating safe, affordable housing
Providing
transportation or teaching families to use public transportation
Linking
families with community resources
Accomplishments
Since
1991, the family preservation programs have served over 1,000 families and
more than 2500 children. Of these children, more than 90% have been able to
remain in their homes despite coming into the program at imminent risk of
removal.