“We're still not where we are going but we're still not where we were.” - Natasha Josefowitz
Recent Accomplishments
Highlights of Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families’ recent accomplishments:
- In July 2007, JI became fiscal agent for the Alliance for Kids – El Paso County's Early Childhood Council. The council is developing an integrated, high quality service system for young children, birth to 8 years, that includes Early Care & Education, Health, Mental Health and Family Support. A full time Coordinator supports the council’s work. Funding is from the Colorado Department of Education.
- In May 2007, JI became the fiscal agent for a Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation Grant that supports an Office of Professional Development. A full time Coordinator supports the effort to increase education qualifications of early care educators.
- On behalf of the Alliance for Kids, JI received a Pikes Peak Community Foundation Grant to support a Child Health Liaison Initiative as well as a Mental Health Initiative for young children. The Alliance is partnering with the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment to implement the Child Health Liaison Initiative with local child care providers.
- Facilitated the implementation of WAY for Families (House Bill 1451) in El Paso County and became the fiscal agent in October 2007. A full time Coordinator was hired to administer the initiative.
This is a collaborative management process for children and youth involved with multiple agencies. The Wraparound Model is the process by which children and their families are served.
As a result of meeting identified outcomes through 2007 the county received in excess of $500,000.
In support of the Wraparound Model, JI served as fiscal agent for the Wraparound Coalition in a contract with Vroon VanDenBerg to provide Wraparound training, coaching and community education for high fidelity wraparound in the community. Six entities contributed funds for the contract and included: WAY for Families (HB1451) El Paso County, HB1451 Teller County, Kids Crossing, Senate Bill 94, Pikes Peak Mental Health and Connect Care.
