Many children face trauma and uncertain futures even in San Diego County, where the idyllic weather stands in stark contrast to the reality that thousands of youth are separated from their families each year. It’s here that the Clinton Foundation, The San Diego Foundation, and the County of San Diego are collaborating to identify sustainable solutions to the challenges encountered by families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Building on the progress of the Live Well San Diego action framework in achieving better health for all populations, this Strong Families, Thriving Communities partnership aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and may provide important lessons for communities across the United States.
But many families face inequities that social service agencies and community based organizations can address to prevent maltreatment and involvement in the juvenile justice system.
Among the biggest risk factors for a family’s involvement with the child welfare system are socio-economic status and zip code. In parts of San Diego County, housing insecurity, minimal local employment opportunity, poor transportation access, and lack of affordable child care contribute to persistent poverty. Working parents without adequate public transportation and affordable childcare options may sacrifice child supervision in favor of earning money to provide basic human needs – shelter, food, and clothing.
For the past year, representatives from CHMI, The San Diego Foundation, and the County of San Diego engaged with more than 100 community partners – the Strong Families, Thriving Communities Coalition – in a process that identified key challenges and solutions through bold action steps for children and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
To read more of the San Diego Foundation's post, please click here.
Comments (0)