Prevention

Healthy Families Indiana (HFI) is a voluntary home visitation program designed to promote healthy families and healthy children through a variety of services, including child development, access to health care and parent education.

The goal of HFI is to promote healthy childhood growth and development, enhance family functioning by reducing risk and building protective factors for optimal childhood outcomes, and provide staff training and support for professional wellbeing.

Watch a video about HFI here.

Community Partners for Child Safety is a statewide prevention program. It is designed to strengthen the family unit and build support services. It is voluntary, free, and provides home-based services to connect families with resources. DCS collaborates with five CPCS agencies to provide service in all 92 counties:

• Bauer Family Resources
• Firefly Children & Family Alliance
• Geminus
• Ireland Home-Based Services
• Iris Family Support Center

Family Resource Centers (FRC) are a focal point of DCS and an extension of primary prevention services. They provide a warm and welcoming place in the community where family members can access formal and informal supports to promote their health and well-being, not only in times of need but as a regular part of day-to-day life. FRCs provide multiple services and resources to diverse families and children, increase protective factors, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. In sum, many consider an FRC to be a hub of support, services, and opportunities for families that:

• Utilizes and approach that is multi-generational, strength-based, and family centered.
• Reflects and is responsive to community needs and interests.
• Provides support at no, or low cost for participants.

Download the FRC brochure.

The Indiana Youth Service Association (IYSA) povides a variety of programs aimed at preventing delinquent behavior in teenagers.

The IYSA program goals are to:

• Keep youth out of the justice system
• Help young people develop life skills
• Support academic progress
• Establish a relationship with a caring adult
• Improve life/family circumstances

Safe Place is an IYSA initiative that provides short-term, crisis oriented assistance for at-risk or in-crisis youth. Safe Place provides help within the youth’s neighborhood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Businesses, community buildings, and buses are designated as Safe Place sites and display the distinctive yellow shield and logo. Any youth entering these sites can ask for help and be connected to a youth serving agency that can provide the needed help.