Early Prevention Services Overview:

Early Prevention Services are a full range of services provided to families prior to, or in the absence of a current valid CPS referral. These services include public education and awareness services provided to the general public, services provided to specific groups of parents or specific families (including foster and adoptive families) whose children are at risk of maltreatment or out-of-home care, including foster care placement, placement disruption, residential placement, and placement moves to related or non-related adults.

 

What is prevention?

Prevention services are an integral part of the continuum of all child welfare services. They include, but are not limited to, providing information and services intended to accomplish the following goals:

• Strengthen families.

 

• Promote child safety, well-being, and permanency.

 

• Minimize harm to children.

 

• Maximize the abilities of families to protect and care for their children.

 

• Prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of child abuse and neglect.

 

• Prevent out-of-home care, including preventing foster care.

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Benefits of providing prevention services to families in a strength-based, trauma informed system that promotes protective factors include the following:

• Families who identify their problems and seek help through prevention are more likely to benefit quickly from services and their children are less likely to be at risk of abuse and neglect and out-of-home care.

 

• Early involvement with the family reduces the likelihood of abuse and neglect occurring, maintains permanency for the child in their family, and preserves sibling groups.

 

• Strength-based family engagement approaches empower family members and increase their opportunity to be self-sufficient.

 

• Training and education in the areas of parents' understanding of child development, behavior management, stress management, attachment, and nurturing reduces negative behavior problems and family conflict and improves family relationships.

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The Goal of Prevention Services is to strengthen families by insuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of its children.

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These services are designed to:

• Prevent the occurrence (or re-occurrence) of child abuse/neglect from any caretaker

 

• Prevent out of home care (including the prevention of foster care)

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For more information about Foster Care Prevention, please contact:

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276-346-1010

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