Families First (Contract No. 2310-7570)

2024

Program Name: University of Miami Families First Program/Agency Name: Families First is housed within the University of Miami Perinatal CARE Program, whose mission is dedicated to improving maternal and child health and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable families with infants and young children. Primary Program Activities: UM Families First provides evidence-based, culturally competent, and linguistically responsive family-strengthening parenting services to at-risk families. Primary program activities are the Incredible Years Parents and Babies curriculum for caregivers and their infants' ages birth to 1 year and the Incredible Years Toddler Basic curriculum for families with children ages 1-3 years. The Incredible Years Parents and Babies evidence-based curriculum focuses on supporting/enhancing parent-child attachment, improving parenting knowledge, and optimizing child development. Parents/caregivers and infants meet for 2 hours weekly for 10 weeks, and facilitators use an interactive, relationship-based approach. The evidence-based Incredible Years Toddler curriculum targets the parent-child relationship, positive parenting/discipline skills, and school readiness. Participants meet for 2 hours weekly for 13 weeks, and trained facilitators use video clips of real-life situations to encourage discussion and teach skills. Groups are offered in-person and in a hybrid (virtual/in-person) format. Families First parenting groups are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and offered in English and Spanish during day, evening, and weekend times at community partner locations convenient for families. Locations are selected to reduce disparities in access and to be inclusive of all families. Participants receive topic-related educational items to practice skills at home and a meal/snack is served each session. Childcare services and transportation support are provided as needed to reduce participation barriers. Population to be Served: Families First targets at-risk parents/caregivers with children birth to 3 years. Recruitment is countywide, drawing from targeted referral sources for selective at-risk populations and facilitated by our 20+ collaborative partnerships. Selective at-risk groups targeted include teen parents, parents of children with disabilities, low-income/high-need families, children with emerging disruptive behaviors, and families in the Dependency System/Drug Court or with mental health/substance abuse issues.

Training Trainees, Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services, Demonstration Services

Health-Related Activities

Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Renewal Community, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Urban, Territory

Single-County

N/A