Ohio historically has led the way in integrating leadership and coordination of health, education, and social services for children and families. Since the early 1990s, Family and Children First Councils (FCFCs) in every Ohio county have provided the structure for energetic local leadership and collaboration, capacity development, seamless service coordination, and family empowerment and engagement. This issue of Children, Families and the Courts will provide some background on the history and activities of FCFCs, and note the advantages of the FCFC framework during difficult economic times. It also will call attention to the natural fit between the FCFC approach and the family court principles of local leadership and collaboration, point out the many opportunities for FCFC collaboration with the courts, and describe selected examples of productive juvenile or family court participation in local FCFCs.
Ohio Family and Children First
11/01/11
Report