Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS)
Be Strong Families grew out of a primary child abuse prevention initiative—Strengthening Families Illinois—that was entirely funded by IL DCFS between 2007-2012. Since 2012, Be Strong Families has had a $765,000 / year annual fee-for-service contract to build protective factors with child-welfare involved families (youth in care, parents, and foster parents / substitute caregivers). Under this contract, Be Strong Families annually delivers 425+ direct service training workshops at partner organizations across the state of Illinois. Topics include: Get on the Fast Track to Getting Your Kids Back, Maintaining Family Connectedness, Trauma-Informed Parenting: Using Lifebooks, Shared Parenting, and Cafés. In addition to this contract, Be Strong Families manages the IDCFS Youth Advisory Board activities including convening and coordinating 5 affinity groups as well as regional and statewide meetings.
For more details, please visit:
Youth Advisory Affinity Groups (Info Card)
Statewide Youth Advisory Board (Info Card)
Building Protective Factors with Child-Welfare-Involved Families
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