FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
C.A.R.E.S. program recognized as an evidence-based practice by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
MELBOURNE, FL. – October 19, 2016 – The C.A.R.E.S. (Coordination, Advocacy, Resources, Education and Support) program, developed by Brevard C.A.R.E.S. and The National Center for Innovation & Excellence, has recently been recognized as an evidence-based practice by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC).
The CEBC is a critical tool for identifying, selecting, and implementing evidence-based child welfare practices that will improve child safety, increase permanency, increase family and community stability, and promote child and family well-being.
The CEBC helps to identify and disseminate information regarding evidence-based practices relevant to child welfare. Evidence-based practices are those that have empirical research supporting their efficacy. The CEBC aims to assist systems and agencies in making critical decisions around the selection and implementation of evidence-based practices.
C.A.R.E.S. is a community-based prevention and diversion program utilizing Wraparound Family Team Conferencing to successfully engage and serve families who are at risk of child abuse and neglect. C.A.R.E.S.’ mission is to “Protect Children, Strengthen Families and Change Lives, Whatever it Takes!” and their goal is to engage and build upon families’ strengths using the Wraparound Principles of practice to prevent families from entering or penetrating deeper into the formal child welfare and/or juvenile justice system.
C.A.R.E.S. engages the family, identifies strengths and needs, convenes customized Family Team Meetings inclusive of natural and community supports, and drafts an individualized and well-coordinated plan of care to improve family functioning, reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, with a focus on family strengthening and measurable goals and outcomes that result in family stabilization and preservation.
The National Center for Innovation and Excellence’s family-centered, strength-based program is now available to agencies and organizations throughout the U.S. that want to reduce the number of children in their formal child welfare systems, through an aggressive, front-end child abuse prevention model. The C.A.R.E.S. training location and delivery method is flexible and can be delivered on site in the locality adopting the C.A.R.E.S. model and remotely.
For additional information on the C.A.R.E.S. program, please contact Dr. Patricia Nellius at Patricia.Nellius@fpocf.org or via phone at (321) 752-4650 x3002. The link to the C.A.R.E.S. program model on the CEBC web site is: https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/c-a-r-e-s-coordination-advocacy-resources-education-and-support/detailed.
About The National Center for Innovation and Excellence
Established in 2013, The National Center for Innovation and Excellence is a dynamic community dedicated to developing youth, changing communities, growing economies, and improving the lives of others by working with organizations, foundations, governments, and communities to design, implement, and test outcomes for large scale youth development strategies and community change initiatives. The NCIE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brevard Family Partnership.
###
Contact
Melissa Breckenridge
Public Relations Coordinator
Brevard Family Partnership
2301 W. Eau Gallie Blvd. Suite 104
Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone: 321-752-4650 ext. 3047
Email: Melissa.Breckenridge@fpocf.org
