First Step Family Support Center

PROMOTING THE HEALTY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ON THE NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULA BY BUILDING FAMILY STRENGTHS

PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM EXPENSES (PAT): THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY, DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET, SAFE, AND READY TO LEARN. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWICE-A-MONTH HOME VISITS, GROUP CONNECTIONS MEETINGS, CHILD SCREENINGS, FAMILY ASSESSMENTS, GOAL SETTING AND REFERRALS TO NEEDED RESOURCES. THESE COMPONENTS CREATE A COHESIVE PACKAGE OF SERVICES WITH FIVE PRIMARY GOALS: 1) TO INCREASE PARENT KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING PRACTICES, 2) TO INCREASE EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND HEALTH ISSUES AND GET CHILDREN THE NEEDED SERVICES TO GET AND KEEP THEM DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET, 3) TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, 4) TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND 5) TO PROVIDE PARENT AND CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE PAT CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD ON FAMILY STRENGTHS AND BUILD THESE PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN THE FAMILIES' LIVES. VISITS IN THE HOME ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MODEL. OUR TARGET POPULATION IS: AT-RISK, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-5 WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SERVING TEEN PARENTS, FIRST-TIME PARENTS, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING FAMILIES AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. FIRST STEP RECEIVED THE "BLUE RIBBON" STATUS BY PAT NATIONAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUR WORK. WE SUPPORT 140 FAMILIES A MONTH WITH PAT HOME VISITING PROGRAMMING.

ALL OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES: FIRST STEP DELIVERS A VAST ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE AND FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMS AS PART OF OUR FAMILY WELL-BEING SUITE. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE TWO PROGRAMS FIRST STEP MAINTAINS A MATERNITY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM, INFANT CASE MANAGEMENT, TWO BRICK AND MORTAR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, MULTIPLE POP-UP FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS SERVING OUTLYING AREAS, CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT CLOSETS, A DIAPER BANK THAT PROVIDED OVER 275,000 DIAPERS TO OVER 900 FAMILIES IN 2023, KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN GROUPS, PERINATAL AND INFANT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUPS AND EDUCATION, PARENTING CLASSES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES. IN 2023 THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE WCFC (WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN) PENINSULAS EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION, WHOSE PURPOSE IS "CONNECTING LOCAL AND STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES". ADDITIONALLY, FIRST STEP CHAIRS THE CLALLAM & JEFFERSON PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE WHICH SEEKS TO BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH COLLABORATION AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS SERVING PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM FAMILIES AND AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER EVENT THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND SHOWCASES AVAILABLE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES. FIRST STEP STAFF MAKES REFERRALS TO NEEDED RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS, WHETHER FIRST STEP OFFERS THESE RESOURCES AND SERVICES OR OTHER AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS. IN 2022 FIRST STEP FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER GREW OUR WORK OF PROVIDING DIRECT CONCRETE GOODS TO FAMILIES. PROVIDING CONCRETE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED IS ONE OF THE RESEARCH-SUPPORTED PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT HAS BEEN FOUND TO SUPPORT OPTIMAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. IN ADDITION TO OUR DIAPER BANK WORK, WE PROVIDED 53 BRAND NEW CAR SEATS, 26 NEW INFANT CRIBS, OVER 530 NEW CHILDREN'S WINTER COATS, 163 PAIRS OF BRAND-NEW RUBBER BOOTS FOR CHILDREN, AND OTHER SUPPORT SUCH AS GROCERY GIFT CARDS, GAS VOUCHERS, AND SUPPORT FOR IMMEDIATE CRITICAL NEEDS. FIRST STEP PROVIDED OVER 361,000 IN CONCRETE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN 2023. IN JANUARY 2023 FIRST STEP'S FORKS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER OPENED AND BEGAN SERVING FAMILIES LIVING IN THE RURALWEST- END OF CLALLAM AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. THIS CENTER QUICKLY BECAME A HUB FOR SERVICES AND SAW OVER NEARLY 1,800 VISITS BY 217 UNIQUE FAMILIES IN 2023.

PARENT-CHILD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EXPENSES (PCAP): PRENATAL SUBSTANCE USE PUTS CHILDREN AT RISK. IN ADDITION, TO THE RISKS DUE TO THE SUBSTANCE EXPOSURES, THERE IS AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF RISK ACTORS WITHIN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT. WE HELP MOTHERS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, ALCOHOL/DRUG-FREE LIVES AND WORK TOWARDS PREVENTING FUTURE BIRTHS OF SUBSTANCE EXPOSED CHILDREN. WELL- TRAINED AND WELL-SUPERVISED CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ENROLLED WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THREE YEARS. CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE EXTENSIVE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE SUCH AS HELPING TO FIND HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES, AND LEGAL SERVICES. THEY ALSO PROVIDE LONG-TERM EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES. WE SERVE UP TO 106 WOMEN EACH MONTH THROUGH THE PCAP PROGRAM. PCAP CLIENT EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: A) CLIENT COMPLETION OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS, B)ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL/DRUGS FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS DURING THE PROGRAM, C)REGULAR USE OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, D) CHILDREN LIVING WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES (AVOIDANCE OF OUT-OF- HOME PLACEMENT) AND E) SECUREMENT OF PERMANENT, STABLE HOUSING.