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Press Release: December 12, 2005
BAY AREA’S FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROGRAMS
Distinguished Robert Rice Innovative Program Award Given to Local In-School Program Located in More Than 120 Childcare Sites
SAN JOSE, CA - Family & Children Services (F&CS), a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit agency today announced its Early Childhood Services (ECS) program has been awarded the national Robert Rice Innovative Program Award by The Alliance for Children & Families. The ECS program, in place since 1999, offers a unique approach to the prevention of child neglect and abuse in the Bay Area by looking at healthy family dynamics and school readiness combined with indicators of potential neglect as early identifying factors. Located in more than 120 childcare sites throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the ECS program provides education and support for more than 600 children, parents and childcare providers.
“The ECS program is designed to help low-income children whose families would not otherwise have access to mental health care,” said Jeanne C. Labozetta, MA, LMFT, MBA, President and CEO of Family & Children Services. “This award provides a great opportunity to address the very real and ongoing issues of Bay Area childhood and spousal abuse, emotional health issues and parenting, and their effects in our school systems. This program has seen overwhelming success rate with more than a 72 percent improvement in classroom behavior. Family & Children Services will continue to serve as a model for health and human services in our community.”
The ECS program trains certified counselors to identify children who are at risk for emotional or behavioral problems that may prevent school readiness and future success. Early intervention allows counselors, teachers and parents to address children’s emotional challenges before they become obstacles to a child’s long-term ability to learn, thrive and succeed. Because of the program’s integrated approach, a child’s primary caregivers at home and in childcare receive the training and support they need to provide children with consistent care and guidance.
ECS staff members first train childcare providers to identify potential stressors that indicate an unstable home life, to recognize an at-risk child, and to provide referrals and seek assistance. Once a child is identified, the program provides in-depth counseling sessions where children are encouraged to communicate in healthy ways. Finally, families receive training on how to positively and effectively support their child. Funding for the program is provided in part by BEA Systems, The Health Trust, and The Morris Stulsaft Foundation.
The Alliance for Children & Families, an association of more than 330 private, nonprofit child- and family-serving agencies organizations in the United States and Canada, annually recognizes a program with the Robert Rice Innovative Program Award. The Award honors a program that effectively and creatively addresses the needs of the families and communities it serves, and favors programs responding to an urgent community need. A growing body of research and clinical experience has demonstrated the emotional health needs of young children and the impact their early years have on their future experiences.
To learn more about the Early Childhood Services program and Family & Children Services’ other programs, call 650-326-6576 or visit www.fcservices.org.
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