Engaging Vulnerable Families in Voluntary Preventative Programs
Engaging vulnerable families in voluntary preventative programs:
Lessons from seven jurisdictions across the U.S.
Jurisdictions across the country are working to transform supports for vulnerable children and families by creating a more prevention-focused, holistic, and accessible child welfare system. Key to this approach has been redirecting funds to voluntary, upstream services that can prevent poor outcomes for families before they occur. Unfortunately, however, these voluntary programs often struggle to attract and engage families most in need of their services.
State and local government agencies face challenges allocating slots for intensive services, prioritizing outreach efforts to reach those most in need, and sustaining high take-up rates for vulnerable families who are referred to voluntary programs. Overcoming these challenges is important for three reasons: 1) providing supportive services upstream can prevent adverse outcomes before they occur, 2) proactive, well-designed engagement strategies can address historic inequities, and 3) families facing adversity are more likely to participate in services when providers’ outreach efforts are tailored to their specific needs.
In order to provide preventative programs to the families that are most vulnerable to adverse outcomes, governments need to identify and engage them in a way that feels trusted, frictionless, and without judgment. This policy brief highlights lessons from seven jurisdictions across the U.S. that are successfully identifying vulnerable families and engaging them in services that prevent harmful outcomes in the future and empower children and families to thrive in the present.