Support for Birth & Beyond: It Saves Children's Lives

Sacramento Family Support Collaborative is a partnership between Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services, the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) of Sacramento, and six community based organizations operating Family Resource Centers (FRC) in the eight Sacramento County neighborhoods where children are most at risk of abuse and neglect.

The six agencies include: Sacramento Children’s Home, La Familia Community Counseling Center, River Oak Center for Children, Mutual Assistance Network, The Effort North Highlands, and Folsom Cordova Community Partnership.

The FSC was formed in 1998 by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in response to high profile child deaths. The County made a commitment to prevention and collaboration with community partners to prevent child abuse and neglect by supporting families.

In 1999, the Birth & Beyond (B&B) Home Visitation program was developed modeled after a federal home visitation program. B&B was implemented in nine Sacramento County neighborhoods where children were most at risk of child abuse and neglect.

Situation:
As a result of the County Budget deficit, the Birth & Beyond Program will lose all remaining 8 Team Leaders (Clinical Supervision of Home Visitors) for the entire program. Without clinical supervision, B&B will be UNABLE to continue providing the crucial service of home visitation to the most vulnerable children and families.

Birth & Beyond has already suffered financial cuts and is operating at a bare minimum:

2004 - As a result of County funding cuts, one of the nine sites (Arden Arcade) closed, leaving hundreds of families and a commnunity unserved, even to this day.
2008 - The County eliminated 2 home visitors and 1 team leader (suprvisor) per site. Consequentally, 120 fewer families were served in 2008. During the same time frame, 12 children died from Child Abuse and Neglect Homicide.

Need:
The B&B Home Visitation program was evaluated and the study found that 2/3 of families who received B&B Home Visitation services did NOT re-enter the CPS system. This saves the County money AND improves parenting, positively impacts children, and prevents child abuse and neglect.