Discusses the historical underpinning of family-centered, neighborhood-based child welfare services. The origins of the child welfare system can be traced to the 1655 conviction of a Massachusetts man for child maltreatment and to the subsequent establishment of children’s aid societies throughout the United States. Modern-day federal legislation has favored family preservation, leading to new intervention models built around the concept of kinship care or relative foster placements. The Family to Family Initiative, sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is one example of the movement toward family-centered, neighborhood-based (FCNB) services. The initiative’s goals are to target children in institutional care and return them to foster homes in their neighborhoods and to involve foster families in family reunification efforts. Key strategies include recruiting and supporting resource families and building community partnerships. Local implementation of this initiative was undertaken in Columbus, Ohio, with 250 children in out-of-home care. Existing foster families were given training in the FCNB model, and partnerships were developed with private foster agencies, schools, and school support services. Preliminary outcomes included a reduction in the number of children placed in foster homes outside of the area and more effective use of resources to avoid out-of-home placements.
