School of Social Work at UT Arlington
Staying Connected
A Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Project
Child abuse and neglect during the early years of life can negatively affect brain development and place children at risk for developing a variety of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social difficulties. Specifically, child abuse and neglect also places children at risk for poor school performance, drug abuse, gangs, and juvenile and adult criminal justice system involvement. In-home visitation and education programs have been demonstrated to be effective prevention strategies for child abuse and neglect.
Program Information
Program Design: The Staying Connected project aims to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, and the parallel risk for child welfare and criminal justice involvement, among a target population of high risk families by providing a program of in-home educational and support services. Reports evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for preventing violence in communities found strong evidence of the effectiveness of early childhood home visitation for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Staying Connected services are provided by a case management team representing professional and paraprofessional mental health counseling; chemical dependency counseling; and parent education.
Eligibility: Staying Connected serves high risk families with two or more of the following risk factors: (1) a history of child abuse or neglect allegations; (2) substance abuse; (3) mental health issues; (4) isolation and a lack of family or social support; (5) poverty, and/or (6) family instability, dysfunction, or chaotic lifestyle.
Program Services: Staying Connected offers the following services:
- Individual and Family Assessment services include personal, family, and psychosocial needs assessment designed to identify the barriers which may prevent optimal development of infants and children, responsible and effective parenting, and appropriate family functioning.
- Targeted Parent Education services will include individually selected, curriculum-based “lessons” covering parenting principles such as positive discipline, encouragement, logical consequences, and other skills related to effective parenting.
- In-Home Case Management will deliver social support and educational services directly to at-risk families and caregivers in their homes. Home-based services will include needs assessment, targeted parent education, coaching, emotional support, modeling, counseling, and in-home teaching of household management skills as a part of a comprehensive prevention/intervention effort.
- Support Services, including problem identification utilizing the information obtained from screening and assessment, referral to available program services, treatment, or other community resources, referral follow-up, and crisis intervention services to address situations that may escalate and result in child abuse/neglect or other crises if immediate attention is not provided.
Program Length: Families are enrolled in the Staying Connected project for up to 6 months as space is available. Please call the program for enrollment and waiting list information.
Program Location: Staying Connected project offices are located with the New Connections programs near Parkland Hospital at 2330 Butler Street, Suite 119.
Program Fees: The services listed above are FREE.
Please Contact: Call the Staying Connected project at 214-645-0935 for more information about program services or to make a referral. Space in the program is limited.
