This summer ARCHS awarded a combined $1 million to four organizations to launch Healthy Families Missouri (HFM) to serve children and families in 42 counties across the state of Missouri.
ARCHS is providing grants to Community Partnership of the Ozarks (Springfield, MO), New Madrid County Human Resources Council (New Madrid, MO), Northeast Caring Communities (Lancaster, MO), and The Community Partnership (Rolla, MO).
The ARCHS’ funded organizations will serve as Healthy Families America® (HFA) affiliates. HFA is one of the leading family support and evidence-based home visiting programs in the United States. The program is designed to promote positive parenting, enhance child health and development, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Parental participation in the program is voluntary. HFA uses research-based tools proven to strengthen families with a focus reaching families at highest risk for child abuse and neglect. HFA affiliate staff will provide personalized goal planning and support to families with an emphasis on parenting and child development education. Staff will also provide referrals to area education, housing, and additional community resources.
ARCHS and the funded organizations are part of The Family and Community Trust (FACT). ARCHS secured the funding through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood. ARCHS serves as the program’s strategic technical advisor and fiscal agent.
“Our state-wide partners are uniquely positioned to help launch this new initiative to support Missouri’s children and families. This proven home visiting model will greatly enhance the state’s parent education and child safety efforts,” says Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ Chief Executive Officer.
“By drawing upon the local expertise of our community partnerships, these new programs will offer a strong foundation to provide vital support services to parents,” says William T. Dent, FACT’s Executive Director.
The goals of the state-wide initiative include:
-22 jobs created with on-the-job training to become HFA certified as family support specialists
-286 families served monthly
-48 parent education cafés will be offered throughout the year
-5,700+ home visits completed annually