Children’s Trust has contracted with three family resource centers to deliver support to the Opportunities for Prevention and Transformation Initiative (OPT-In) in South Carolina. Led by the S.C. Department of Social Services, Children’s Trust is the fiscal agent and vendor payor for this project, collaborating with local family resource centers in three pilot counties:
- Children’s Place, Aiken County
- Epworth, Richland County
- Family Solutions, Orangeburg County
OPT-In is a national, innovative partnership that connects families with coordinated support services, helping them access support before problems become more serious. It aims to support families further upstream by referring families screened out by DSS to local family resource centers for resource navigation and assistance with concrete supports, with the goal of reducing family stressors and preventing child maltreatment.
At these three organizations, local family resource navigators work with families to connect them to local resources and concrete supports. The project has clearly defined eligibility requirements, including income, proof of residency and documentation.
South Carolina is one of four demonstration sites, along with Kentucky, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. It was selected for its efforts to implement innovative prevention strategies under the Family First Prevention Services Act. The South Carolina project is being piloted in the three identified counties, selected for need and local partner readiness.
All three organizations are members of the Family Support Network and are established, well-respected community partners with a track record of delivering positive outcomes for the children and families they serve.
Read our previous article about OPT-In.
