Project Overview
The Butler Institute for Families serves as the external evaluator for the Jefferson Community Connections Program. This project is a five-year demonstration project that tests a model of collaboration between the county-administered TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) system and the Jefferson County Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) to improve outcomes for children and families. This project is funded by the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration, Children’s Bureau.
Project Timeframe: 2006 – 2012
Project Summary:
The model was implemented to help families involved in both systems simultaneously (“dual-system” families). The program model includes family group conferences (FGCs) emphasizing building social support systems and providing private family time for planning; collaborative cross-department case planning; comprehensive family assessment (CFA); interagency service delivery, focusing on domestic violence; substance abuse and mental health screening and referral; job resource development; cross-system training; parent partner mentoring (PPM); parent partner committee work to represent the client voice; and the development of data sharing technology.
The Butler Institute evaluation team worked collaboratively with the JCC team to design an experimental study, develop the CFA and outcome measures, analyze CFA data and create automated reports for case workers and TANF managers to use in case planning, analyze administrative outcome data, and present and disseminate results.
Partners: Jefferson County Human Services
Funded/Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau
Contact Information: Robin.Leake@du.edu or (303) 871-6813
