Project Description:
Project Description: Project ABC (About Building Connections for Young Children & Families) is a collaboration between Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Service, Children?s Institute, USC-UCEDD at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and USC School of Social Work. Our goal is an integrated service system for infants, preschoolers, and families providing comprehensive, family-centered, culturally sensitive services to young children birth to five and their families. The target population includes infants and toddlers who are either in the child welfare system or at risk of entry, who have serious emotional or behavioral problems, and who live in an underserved geographical area of Los Angeles County. The targeted geographic area receives over 5600 child abuse and neglect referrals of children ages birth to five each year. Training, social marketing, evaluation, and policy development are also incorporated into the scope of this project.
Project goals/objectives/activities: Approximately 500 young children and their families will be enrolled during a six-year period. The project is identifying and coordinating a broad palette of community-based services, including mental health, primary care, nutrition, developmental, education, special education and child care, as well as family support and family mental health and alcohol and drug services. Strength-based individualized service plans are developed by the interagency care teams in collaboration with the family to ensure integrated and coordinated care. Child and family interventions are provided in the family homes and include a variety of promising and evidence-based practices. Interagency collaboration, community capacity and quality of care will be enhanced by the comprehensive interagency training and technical assistance program.
End projects or measurable outcomes anticipated: Project ABC will serve as a national model of early childhood system of care service delivery, training, and resources. Outcome data will be available through participation in the national evaluation as well as a local evaluation. We expect to raise public awareness, reduce stigma and influence public policy on behalf of very young children and their families.
Core function areas: service, research, training, dissemination
Target population: trainees, professionals, family members/caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, and general public.
Gerographic area served: LA county
Partnerships: USC Department of Social Work, LAC Department of Mental Health, LAC Department of Children & Family Services, Children's Institute.
Funding source: SAMHSA through LAC DMH
Years of funding: 2005 - 2011
Keyword(s):
child welfare, children with special needs, integrted services,
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other
Target Audience:
Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Urban
