Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative

Programs: Family and community supportive services - the community engagement division builds membership, partnerships, notoriety and capacity on behalf of the organizations that fsfsc works with everyday to provide quality service to ward 8 families. Those services include the following: 1) mini-grants & capacity-building grants. The mini-grants program was established to support the implementation activities and initiatives that help keep children safe from child abuse and neglect; help families build support systems; and assist residents and local non-profits to develop and improve the capacity to solve issues and community challenges. 2) ward 8 drug free coalition. The mission of the ward 8 drug free coalition is to develop and implement comprehensive community-based activities designed to provide youth with positive alternative life choices. The coalition engages ward 8 youth, ages 11-17, in year-round programming designed to reduce alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and synthetic drug use among youth through community engagement and peer intervention. 3) capacity-building. The community engagement division leads fsfsc's capacity-building efforts through collaboration with service providers to ensure that there is effective coordination of programs, events and activities for the residents in ward 8. The family services division provides access to quality-focused programs that serve children, families and youth. Those programs include the following: 1) men and boys program. The goal of the men and boys program is to provide men and boys with support services and opportunities to increase fathers' ability to contribute positively to the wellbeing of their children, and to improve the quality of relationships between fathers and the mothers of their children. 2) barry farm family support center. The barry farm family support center provides case management to families in the new communities initiative, and a computer lab for all residents living in barry farm to access job opportunities and educational resources. 3) school-based family support centers. School-based programming focuses on providing resources necessary to put students and families is the best possible position to be stable and successful. Fsfsc provides family support and programming that focuses on family success, academic achievement, and truancy prevention. 4) nurturing parenting program. The goals of the nurturing parenting program is to increase the parent/caregiver capacity of residents in the ward 8 community to improve, enhance and support their abilities to understand and respond to the developmental, educational, recreational, spiritual and socioeconomic needs of children and young adults; and to create, maintain and grow healthy, thriving families and communities.

housing services - the housing services program provides case management, budget management, household maintenance, family stabilization and self-sufficiency services to families transitioning out of shelters in the district of columbia. The housing assistance program includes the following: 1) "milestones" supervised visitation program (msvp). Msvp is rooted in the belief that the reunification of families is a lengthy, personal and emotional process. Therefore, the milestones' mission is to offer ward 8 families the appropriate time, tools, environment, and mental/emotional supports that can empower and realistically prepare them for the homecoming of their children. 2) rapid housing assistance. The rapid housing assistance program funded by child and family services in collaboration with fsfsc, provides limited assistance in the form of short-term subsidies to families for whom the lack of affordable housing will likely result in children being brought into care, or the lack of affordable housing is the major barrier to family stabilization. Young adults, with and/or without children that are transitioning out of care are also eligible to participate in this program.