Crittenton Center has received a grant from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Regional Partnership Grant (RPG) will be a cooperative agreement funded at $600,000 annually for a five-year project period. Project partners are the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Juvenile Court Services-3rd Judicial District, and Sky Ranch Behavioral Health.
Across the United States, eighteen grants totaling $8.8 million were awarded to increase wellbeing, improve permanency, and enhance the safety of children who are in, or at risk of, an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent’s or caregiver’s opioid or other substance misuse.
“Supporting the children in our homeless shelter who have been tremendously impacted by parental or caregiver substance abuse is what our mission is. Almost all youth entering our doors have been victims of child abuse and neglect due to substance abuse. We want to change this and provide more opportunity, support, and services to families desperately wanting and needing sobriety in their lives so that their children can leave our homeless shelter and safely return home. And if home is no longer an option, then assist our children in successfully moving to another living environment where they can be helped in overcoming the impact of their trauma,” shared Kim Scorza, Executive Director.
According to ACF, “The regional partnership grant program represents the only source of funding specifically focused on the intersection of substance-use disorders, including opioid addiction, and child welfare involvement.” Crittenton Center will be focused on providing Evidence Based Programs including Therapeutic Supervised Visitation, Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including Mindfulness, Trauma-Focused, and Teaching Family Model.
Crittenton Center will be hiring care coordinators who will be providing case management services, navigation/enrollment services, and intensive family engagement. Additional positions will also be posted in the near future.
More information on the national awards is available here.