In FCNI’s Year Seven, a major community issue of runaway youth would take center stage. These youth were ending up in emergency rooms and local shelters–a far cry from the “childhoods” they were supposed to be having. Additionally, services to meet the needs of this youth and those children in the county needing protective care were as odds. Jim, utilizing the newly established CSN, moved to find a solution. From their collaborative work, Jim secured funding for a new program: the Family Intervention Program (FIP). The program, which was widely successful, would be another example of FCNI’s ongoing commitment to keeping youth in families, especially their own, and providing them the supports needed to become self-sufficient and not “system” dependent.
FCNI at a Glance
Employees
15
Number of Programs
4
Children, Youth and Families Served
272
Success Rate
83%
State of the State
1,682,900 homeless and runaway youth in the US
Reported that there were 1,682,900 homeless and runaway youth in the US. Primary causes of homelessness were found to be disruptive family conditions, as well as lack of affordable housing for families. Additionally, a history of foster care correlates with becoming homeless at an earlier age and remaining homeless for a longer period of time.
AB 1197
AB 1197 (Chapter 1088/1993) limited group home placements for children under six years of age, and limited their placement in shelter care facilities.
AB 11998
AB 11998 (Chapter 799/1993) established an Intensive Treatment Pilot that permitted foster family agencies to serve a limited number of children at risk of high level group home placement.
AB 3364
AB 3364 (Chapter 961/1994) established the state Family Preservation and Family Support Program.