CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST

Programs

1. Supporting healthy babies healthy families delaware (hfd) is a statewide, evidence-based dual-generation home visiting program that serves first-time and subsequent pregnancy moms who are more than 28 weeks pregnant or have a newborn younger than three months of age. Through interactive, developmentally appropriate support and frequent contact, home visiting professionals provide moms education and support they need through their child's third birthday. In 2024, 76 babies were born in the program. Of those, 84% had a healthy birth weight and 84% were born at a healthy gestational age. In addition, 92% to 97% of assessed children scored within the normal range for language and social milestones at various points throughout enrollment. Nurse-family partnership (nfp) is a statewide, evidence-based dual-generation home visiting program that serves first-time, low-income, at-risk pregnant women no more than 28 weeks pregnant and follows them through the child's second birthday. Through hands-on, developmentally appropriate education, support, and frequent contact, specially trained nurses help moms have healthy pregnancies and help their children reach developmentally appropriate…

   $3,640,978 spentof which $94,294 as grants
   13% of program spending

2. Early childhoodhead start and early head start (hs|ehs) are national model evidence-based dual-generation early childhood preschool education programs serving eligible kent and sussex county children from birth to 5 years old, and their families. Educators and a staff of specialized professionals support healthy child development and learning through a combination of education, health, nutrition, and human services, and caregiver engagement through direct services and partnerships with numerous community organizations. In the 2023-2024 school year, cff hs enrolled 576 children, of which 43% (246) were multi-language children. In addition to the early education programming that all children received, the most frequent services engaged in by families included: connection to basic needs, housing assistance, asset building, engagement in the child's screening/assessment results and progress, transition support to kindergarten, and preventative medical and oral health education. The child and adult care food program (cacfp) assures that children cared for by licensed childcare providers and centers, often located in underserved communities, receive nutritionally balanced meals. Cff…

   $1,739,366 spentof which $1,289,031 as grants$329,117 earned by the program
   6% of program spending

3. Supporting children & teensadolescent resource center education (arc ed) provides comprehensive school-based group human sexuality education in alignment with delaware department of education standards, national sex education standards second edition, and universal learning design standards to meet the needs of diverse learners. In 2024, group scores for knowledge among youth participating in school-based education increased by 29% in the 5th grade puberty and 11% in the high school human sexuality education curricula. Adolescent resource center counseling & medical services (arc med) provides clinic-based individual counseling and medical services for teens in partnership with nemours children's health, to promote healthy choices and decrease risk-taking behaviors. Clinic services include individualized counseling and education; contraception; testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (stis); pregnancy confirmation; and referrals to medical services or ongoing individual/family counseling not available at the clinic. In 2024, 103 teens received sti tests, and 95% of youth diagnosed with an sti in arc clinics were treated promptly. Behavioral health consultants…

   $6,922,260 spentof which $40,217 as grants
   24% of program spending

4. Supporting kids in care family foster care (fc) at cff provides stability and supportive environments to delaware infants, children, and teens including those requiring therapeutic and specialized care who cannot remain at home for a variety of reasons, including child abuse and neglect relating to caregiver substance abuse. Foster families receive extensive training and support, and birth families receive family-centered counseling, visitation, and support services toward reuniting the child, as appropriate. In 2024, 42 children were joined to resource families. There were between 45 and 49 children in care each quarter, and 37 children were discharged from care throughout the year. Of those discharged, 38% were reunified with their birth families, 5% were adopted through guardianship, 24% were adopted through cff, 3% were adopted by other means, and 30% went to a non-cff placement.special needs adoption provides a permanent home for delaware's older youth; sibling groups; and children with emotional, developmental, or medical needs whose birth parents have had parental rights terminated. In 2024, 9 children were joined with an adoptive family. Of those, 9 adoptions were…

   $2,854,765 spentof which $587,768 as grants$72,446 earned by the program
   10% of program spending

5. Supporting families & providing resourcesaccesscare helps families statewide identify childcare centers, family childcare homes, preschools, school-age programs and camps, and provides coaching on how to make informed care decisions. In 2024, the program assisted 2,790 people, including 252 with purchase of care enhanced support services. Just-in-time care (jitc) is a back-up dependent care program offered to corporations across the u.s. As an employee benefit. Options can include childcare centers, family childcare homes, school-age programs, centers for mildly ill children, adult daycare centers, and in-home care. Individuals can also choose their own backup care providers, including friends and family members. An employee subsidy helps offset the backup care costs. In 2024, jitc saved 5,158 workdays for 490 employees. 96% of jitc participants who completed a survey reported they were able to get to work because of the program and 92% said jitc met their needs. Family assessment and intervention response (fair) is part of the delaware division of family services (dfs) differential response system, designed to prevent children and teens statewide from entering foster care through…

   $13,366,356 spentof which $272,090 as grants$142,997 earned by the program
   47% of program spending

The 5 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $28,523,725.