Housing Supports as Child Welfare Prevention

In July 2024, the National Governors Association Children and Families team hosted the monthly HSPAI Network call, focused on utilizing housing supports as a child welfare preventive factor.

Investments in upstream programs continue to gain traction and state agencies have turned a close eye to evaluating the impact of these social supports on a family's involvement with the child welfare system. In particular, access to stable housing has been demonstrated to have a direct impact on family wellbeing, linked to a significant proportion of child welfare removals as well as delays to reunification; as such, states are employing creative strategies to connect families to housing resources as part of their effort to prevent and/or mitigate extended child welfare involvement.

Speakers

• Mindy Kowalski, Assistant Director, Ohio Department of Job & Family Services
• John Egan, Administrator,Office of Housing and Cash Assistance, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Key Takeaways

• Leadership and Collaboration: Many states emphasized the importance of commitment and leadership from Governors and top-level leadership, to foster collaboration between housing and child welfare agencies.
  • An established mechanism for collaboration, like a commission or council, or having a dedicated FTE who can oversee the coordination of housing supports to at-risk families is pivotal for gaining traction.
• Adaptability: Holistic approaches that allow programs to address the full spectrum of family needs in ways that best suits the communities in which they are located, can be critical for preventing crises and maintaining family stability.
  • For example, Ohio counties tailor their PRC plans, adjusting eligibility and services, to address local challenges like the rise of Haitian Creole populations in some counties.
  • Similarly, the Illinois' Norman Services partners with local homeless care to tailor housing support, ensuring programs meet specific local challenges.
• Supporting vulnerable youth aging out of foster care with programs designed to provide housing and other resources as they transition to independence remains a challenge.

Presentation: OHIO'S (PRC) PREVENTION, RETENTION, AND CONTINGENCY PROGAM

Mindy Kowalski highlighted Ohio's Prevention, Retention, and Contingency (PRC) Program, which is designed to provide crucial support to families at risk of entering the child welfare system. Prevention aims to assist families in crisis, such as those facing eviction, to maintain their housing stability. By intervening early, the goal of the PRC Program is to minimize or try to avoid situations which could lead to child welfare involvement.

The program's Retention programs ensure families maintain stability in areas such as employment, housing, and transportation and helps families avoid economic hardship. The Contingency component addresses urgent needs that may arise, ensuring families have the resources they need to remain safe and stable. This includes providing one-time assistance for issues like car repairs or home repairs.

Ohio uses TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) funding to support the PRC, which is then administered through the state's 88 counties. Each county can tailor its plans to local needs, allowing for more flexibility and responsiveness to community challenges. The state measures the "return on investment" of the program through Wellbeing scores provided by the nonprofit EMPATH. These scores break down the hierarchy of needs, such as family stability, wellbeing, financial literacy, education, and training. Ohio requires these scores for participation in its SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) E&T and Benefit Bridge Programs. Individuals who leave the Benefit Bridge program positively have their Wellbeing scores jump up by almost 20 points.

Presentation: Illinois Norman Program Presentation

John Egan presented on the Norman Services, which include the Norman Cash Assistance, Housing Advocacy, and TANF Application programs, that aim to prevent child removal and facilitate family reunification by addressing housing and immediate family needs. The program is currently funded through state dollars but contributes to the state's Title IV-B required match.

The Norman Cash Assistance program provides financial aid to address urgent needs and items necessary to prevent child removal from the home. In the past year, Illinois allocated over $6 million to this program. The assistance covers various expenses, such as housing costs, utility repairs, and essential household items like appliances, bedding, and clothing. The program also supports car repairs, transportation in rural areas, and home repairs.

In addition to providing cash assistance, the Illinois Housing Advocacy Program providescomprehensive support in navigating the housing system. It assists families in building and maintaining relationships with landlords, accessing various resources, including emergency housing and legal assistance, to prevent homelessness and avoid housing instability that could lead to child removal.

The TANF Application Program further supports families by allowing them to apply for TANF benefits up to 90 days before their child's expected return home. In most states, families would have to wait to apply for TANF benefits 30 to 45 days after the reunification with a child. In Illinois, the advanced application process allows parents to prepare their households by stocking up on essential items before the child reunites with them. Providing early access to TANF benefits reduces the risk of instability and leads to smoother reintegration.

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