Program Description
The Children First Program is a voluntary, strength-based home visiting program that provides services intended to enhance the abilities of parent/caregivers to protect their children from abuse/neglect.
The program provides parental education to ensure independent and improved family functioning through home-based services and by connecting the family to community resources. This program puts Families FIRST by providing Families with Intervention, Referral, Support and Training with the following goals:
Goals
- Healthy and Safe Children
- Independent Functioning and Improved Family Functioning
- Connections to Resources
Case Coordinators
Children First Program Case Coordinators specialize in arranging and securing services to families with a variety of needs. The Case Coordinators are well trained and provides intensive support and resources to families who are at risk for abuse/neglect or who have already experienced judicial intervention for abuse/neglect.
The Case Coordinators help families develop and meet attainable goals for both positive parent-child interaction and self-sufficiency. Families are linked to support for urgent basic needs (rent, utilities, food), WIC, TANF, SNAP, housing, day care, immunizations, health care, mental health services, education programs, Texas Work Source, etc. Services include providing families with BookSpring books to promote early child education and provide reading experiences and tools to children and their families.
Who is eligible for Children First?
- Families who have involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS).
- Families/Caregiver resides in Travis County.
Children First Referral and Enrollment Process
Steps to receiving services
- A CPS Caseworker will refer a family to Children First.
- A Children First Case Coordinator will make an unannounced initial visit with family.
- A Children First Case Coordinator and parent/caregiver will develop an individualized service plan of care, set goals and address any immediate needs of the family.
A Children First Care Coordinator will meet with family weekly providing interventions necessary until the family has attained service plan goals.
Program Funding
Children FIRST is a program that provides support to Child Protective Services Families and is funded through Travis County Health and Human Services & Veterans Service/Office of Children Services. The program is not a division of Child Protective Services.
Location
Children First Team is co-located with the Child Protective Services Division of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
14000 Summit Dr., Ste. 100, Austin, Texas 78728 (Map)
For more information, please contact Program Manager, Mary Williams – (512) 834-3864.
