Center For The Study Of Social Policy

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO ACHIEVE A RACIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY IN WHICH ALL CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES THRIVE.

CHILD AND FAMILY WELL-BEING AND PUBLIC SYSTEM REFORM: CSSP PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, HELPING THEM TO ASSESS HOW WELL THEY FUNCTION AND TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO IMPROVE RESULTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS IN THIS WORK ARE: IMPLEMENTING SYSTEMS OF RESULTS-BASED ACCOUNTABILITY; USING RESEARCH ON "PROTECTIVE AND PROMOTIVE FACTORS" FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH; REFORMING CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF CLASS ACTION LITIGATION; IDENTIFYING AND USING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND OTHER HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEMS; PROMOTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO SERVE TARGET POPULATIONS OF EXTREMELY VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH INCLUDING LBGTQ YOUTH IN CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND HOMELESS SYSTEMS, PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND INFANTS IN FOSTER CARE, AND ASSISTING PUBLIC AGENCIES TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THIS WORK ALSO INCLUDES A STRONG FOCUS ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION, WORKING LOCALLY WITH PROVIDERS OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES, PROMOTING COMMUNITY CHANGE, AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR RESIDENT LEADERSHIP: CSSP PROVIDES RESULTS-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AND FACILITATES PEER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP COMMUNITIES DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO RAISE HEALTHY CHILDREN IN SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO BETTER PROVIDE FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS LATER IN LIFE. CSSP HELPS COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN FEDERAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHER LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WORKING ON NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION THROUGH EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR THEIR YOUNGEST CHILDREN. CSSP ASSISTS FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO EVALUATE INITIATIVES AIMED AT ACHIEVING MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. BY HELPING TO BUILD NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY THROUGH THESE AND SIMILAR INITIATIVES, CSSP SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LEADERS AS THEY CONNECT FAMILIES IN TOUGH NEIGHBORHOODS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, HOUSING, EDUCATION, SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. THIS AREA OF WORK INCLUDES HELPING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY AND RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN THE FOCUS ON IMPROVING RESULTS FOR FAMILIES; BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO PLAY A LEAD ROLE IN THE WORK, ESPECIALLY AS EDUCATED CONSUMERS OF QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES; AND ASSISTING CITIES, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, TO USE THEIR DIVERSITY AS AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ADVANTAGE.

THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PROGRAM: THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PROGRAM INCLUDES CSSP'S ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND THE SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES THAT HELP YOUNG CHILDREN TO THRIVE. THE GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO INFLUENCE THE FIELDS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE BY HELPING COMMUNITIES, CITIES, COUNTIES, AND STATES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE PRACTICES, PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND SYSTEMS THAT CAN IMPROVE WELL-BEING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS WORK INCLUDES SUPPORTING THE WORK OF EARLY CHILDHOOD-LINC (LEARNING AND INNOVATION NETWORK FOR COMMUNITIES), WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER CITIES AND COUNTIES TO TACKLE CHALLENGES AND TEST SOLUTIONS RELATED TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN; DEVELOPING COMMUNITY STRATEGIES RELATED TO PREVENTING AND MITIGATING TOXIC STRESS AND PROMOTING CHILD WELL-BEING AND EARLY RELATIONAL HEALTH; CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITIES, AND STATES IN IMPLEMENTING PROTECTIVE FACTORS; AND DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF EFFECTIVE POLICY AND FUNDING STRATEGIES, AT THE FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN EFFECTIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS. A STRONG FOCUS OF THIS WORK IS SUPPORTING AND ELEVATING THE VOICE OF PARENT LEADERS THROUGH A NATIONAL PARENT LEADER NETWORK.

PROMOTING PUBLIC POLICY