Foster care can be a lifeline for children, but when families remain separated for too long, it can cause further trauma. Meanwhile, biological and foster parents may struggle to make sense of the system.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is addressing these common challenges through Families Together, an impactful and innovative evidence-based program that is completing its third year. LSSI is piloting the program with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Families Together emphasizes a coordinated team-based approach, with designated advocates for children, biological parents, and foster parents working together. The program also provides a strong set of training resources for all who are served by it. (see A Biological Parent’s Perspective, Pg. 2)
“We are really seeing positive results in this program,” said LeKeesha Edwards, Associate Executive Director of LSSI’s Chicago Children’s Community Services office, who oversees a range of children’s programs, including Families Together. “We know that many kids are in the foster care program for too long. Families Together is showing that we can change that.”
Data demonstrates that Families Together can be an insightful model for how the foster care system can work for families. LSSI’s evaluation partner for the program is Chapin Hall, a Chicago-based research and policy center that focuses on the well-being of children, youth, and families.
One of the most important indicators of the program’s success is how long children remain in the foster care system. Early data for Families Together shows that the average time of family reunification decreased from 2.7 years to roughly 1.5 years—a 44% reduction. Data also shows that over 80% of parents are using tools provided by the program that support families, including a “daily report” tool for foster parents. Meanwhile, the team-based model contributes to a reduction in staff turnover.
“This program offers a team approach on an issue where services can be complicated,” Edwards said. “This greatly improves communication.”
