Foothill Families Support Project

The Project

Foothill Families Support Project was designed to provide a more efficient and coordinated method of providing support services to families at-risk for child abuse and neglect.  The project began in July 2003 with the help of a Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Program grant from the Missouri Children's Trust Fund.

Through Foothill Families, staff of the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission brought together a broad range of service providers from Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley, and Wayne Counties.   Members of this newly-formed network now collaborate to ensure that participating families receive adequate and coordinated social support services through the Lead Agency Model of Collaboration (see below).

Each "package" of services is designed around the participating family's unique strengths and goals.  In this way, Foothill Families works to lower family stresses and lessen the potential for child abuse and neglect in the home.

To purchase a specialized CTF Missouri license plate, go to http://ctf.typepad.com/missouri_childrens_trust_/license_plates.html .  Be sure to designate Foothill Families Support Project as your local license plate partner!  One hundred percent of funds received through license plate contributions will be utilized to purchase safe cribs for low income at-risk families with infants.

The Lead Agency Model of Collaboration

The Lead Agency Model of Collaboration brings service providers and family memberstogether at the same table to discuss a particular family's challenges, strengths and potential progress.  Together, this "self-directed care team" designs a plan that will help the family deal more effectively with life's stresses and become self-sufficient.