Family Preservation and Parenting Support

Families First serves Kalamazoo families whose children are at-risk of out-of-home placement because of abuse or neglect and children in foster care being reunited with their families. The families are referred to this intensive four week voluntary program through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Families receive an average of ten hours of face-to-face contact per week. Interventions focus on crisis intervention and safety planning, parenting education, communication and conflict resolution skills, budgeting, household management, life skill education, addressing concrete needs, and linking families to community services. Funding is through contract with Michigan DHHS, there is no fee to clients.

Families First Brochure

Families First Client's Rights and Responsibilities Brochure

Families Together Building Solutions (FTBS) is an in-home program that serves families who are experiencing issues related to child and family well-being and are in need of supportive assistance. Families are referred to this three to six month program through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in Calhoun County. Families receive an average of three hours of face-to-face contact per week. Services focus on enhancing family functioning through safety planning and crisis intervention, parenting education, life skill education, communication and conflict resolution skills, building positive relationships, community resource navigation and advocacy, and concrete need support. Funding is through contract with MDHHS, there is no fee to clients.

Families Together Building Solutions Brochure

Parent Aide & Supportive Visitation serves families in Calhoun County that have been identified by MDHHS as needing support. Families receive an average of one hour of face-to-face contact per week for up to six months. Services focus on enhancing family functioning through home and money management, parenting education and parent coaching, health and nutrition support, academic support for the children, community resource navigation and advocacy, and concrete need support. Eligibility is through a contract with Calhoun County (MDHHS).

Parent Aide Brochure

Supportive Visitation Brochure

The Foster Care Supportive Visitation/In-Home Education Program is a service designed to provide intensive, individualized parent skill coaching and education to families whose child or children have been in out-of-home placement for less than 8 months. The program utilizes evidence-based approaches to replace old patterns of thoughts and behaviors with newer, healthier ones. Eligibility is through a contract with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

Foster Care Supportive Visitation Brochure

Parenting Time Support Services is designed to provide parent/child visits centered on the child’s specific needs. Each family and their Visit Coach designs a plan with specific goals set for each week. The Visit Coach joins with parents to support planning before and after each family visit and assists in achievement of the parenting goals through modeling and education. Eligibility is through a contract with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for families in Kalamazoo County. The service is also available to families through a grant with the Kalamazoo and Calhoun Friend of the Court offices, and to the community at large on a fee for service basis.