Program Created to Reach Families Sooner in the Dependency Process Begins Taking Referrals

October 2, 2024

Port St. Lucie – A program local child-welfare officials hope will keep more families together as they navigate the dependency system begins taking referrals this week.

The program - called the Early Services Engagement Program - is now officially up and running.

Most staff for the 10-member team were hired last month and include a director, supervisor, four dependency case managers, a peer-support specialist and administrative support specialist. Two additional case managers will be added to the team soon.

"The Early Services Engagement Program is designed to prevent children from being removed from their home," said CCKids Chief Operating Officer Cheri Sheffer.

It does that by reaching out to families earlier in the investigative process.

There are two major parts to the state's dependency system. There's child protective investigations, which is handled by the state Department of Children and Families. And there are dependency case management services, which is provided by Communities Connected for Kids.

CPI’s have a complex job identifying risk and providing immediate safety actions to prevent removals, Sheffer said. Sometimes, the number of diverse and complex investigations makes it challenging.

"The early engagement program will allow us to engage more immediately in this extremely high risk scenario, and provide more comprehensive oversight of the families that are most at risk of removal while the CPI finalizes the required elements of their investigation,” she said.

CCKids' program is based on a successful model in Jacksonville that has already received considerable support among legislators. The program will focus on St. Lucie County and, if successful, can be replicated in Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee counties.

It is funded through a special legislative funding request championed by local lawmakers.

"Keeping children in home by helping their families with early access to intensive services reduces trauma and improves outcomes for children and families and for the community of care," Sheffer said.

Sheffer added that she expects the program to begin paying for itself in its second year, as it prevents more families from entering deeper-end, more expensive foster care services.

Pictured above, left, is Grace Sayre, the new ESEP director. She will lead a team of 10, including six case managers. The team is nearly complete, with only two more case managers remaining to be hired.