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Programs

Healthy Families

Category: Human Services - Family Services for Adolescent Parents
Beneficiaries: Children and youth (infants-19 years); Infants/babies (under age 5)
Priority: 1
Budget: $159,000.00

The purpose of the Healthy Families program is to prevent child abuse and neglect by teaching pregnant and parenting teens positive parenting techniques, the importance of maintaining well child visits, completing high school and pursuing higher education and obtaining employment. The Healthy Families program is a free home visitation program that serves participating families for up to five years. CAP Center’s Healthy Families program invests in child wellbeing among zero to five year olds born to teen parents who live in high-poverty areas of Dallas. In 2009, CAP Center served 88 families, 135 teen parents and 97 children in the Healthy Families program.

Definition of long-term success:

Decreased incidence of child maltreatment in Dallas County.

Definition of short-term success:

Healthy Families Measurable Outcomes:
1. To serve a minimum of 65 families.
2. To have a minimum of 70% of families linked to a primary medical provider.
3. To have a minimum of 75% of parents either in school or employed.
4. To have no more than 5 families with validated CPS referrals for child abuse or neglect per year.
5. To reduce parental distress by 20% in families as indicated by the PSI (Parenting Stress Index) over a two year period.
6. To administer the ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) semi-annually to 70% of children ages 4 months to 5 years old.

Success monitored by:

Data is collected utilizing validated surveys. Analysis of data to determine program efficacy is conducted by the Southern Methodist University, School of Psychology.

Evidence of success:

In 2009:
• The CAP Center served 88 families, 135 teen parents and 100 children through the Healthy Families program
• 94% of families served for a minimum of three months did not have substantiated cases of child abuse in 2009
• 86% of families served were linked to a primary medical provider
• 76% of parents served were employed or in school
• There was a 5% decrease in parental stress as measured by a pre/post survey