Our Programs
Together with Families offers a variety of programs aimed at promoting the stabilization, navigation, and real healing for families.
All of the Together with Families programs are offered from The Hub, a family resource center that was launched in 2024.
Family Support
Overview: All families involved with Together with Families have ongoing access to the Family Support program for as long as they need. This program provides essential support for families impacted by poverty and who have or are at risk of child welfare involvement. There is no screening required. Referrals are accepted from courts, DFCS, and schools.
Support Provided:
• Non-financial assistance: Children’s clothing (spring and fall), food, hygiene, cleaning supplies, and baby essentials.
• Community events: Invitations to events like Back to School and Holiday Family Reunion.
• Peer navigator referrals: Connections to additional community resources.
• Transportation support: Transportation to and from the Hub when needed and available.
• Access to classes and Family Cafes: On-demand classes at the Hub and participation in Family Cafes co-led by Parent Ally fellows (transportation provided).
• Technology access: Laptops and printers for tasks like resume building.
Family Cafes: Families are encouraged to attend Family Cafes for training in areas of interest and for building relationships and a sense of community with others who have similar lived experiences. Family Cafes are co-led by our Parent Ally fellows, who provide additional peer support and guidance, fostering a supportive and loving environment.
Counseling Access: Parents and kin caregivers have access to a licensed counselor during one Family Cafe meeting each month. This access promotes healing and provides a space for families to address any emotional or psychological challenges they may be facing.
Family Empowerment &
Kin Care
Family Empowerment Overview: The Family Empowerment program provides support for parents impacted by poverty who have or are at risk of child welfare involvement. Referrals are made by schools, courts, and DFCS. Participation requires an intake process.
Kin Care Overview: The Kin Care program provides support for kin caregivers to ensure children remain within their extended families when their parents are unable to care for them, preventing the need for out-of-family placement. Kin Care accepts referrals from schools, courts, and DFCS for kin families in informal foster care arrangements who are living below the poverty line. Participation requires an intake process. Families in the Kin Care program receive all the same support provided through the Family Empowerment program, with additional support for a children’s room, including new beds, mattresses, bedding, and stuffed animals for new placements.
All families involved with Together with Families have ongoing access to the Family Support program for as long as they need it. Our model emphasizes a holistic and empowering approach to supporting families and kin caregivers, ensuring they receive the resources, guidance, and community connections necessary for long-term stability and growth.
Our approach focuses on partnering with families to develop personal plans with SMART goals, access resources, provide connection to the Together with Families ecosystem, and create community. We provide flexible financial assistance tailored to each family’s needs and coordinated care to address the social determinants of health and increase protective factors. This ensures that families receive the support they need when they need it, helping them to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and thrive.
Program Phases:
Stabilize (up to one month): The initial phase focuses on meeting the family’s basic needs and self-identified needs by providing tangible goods, helping them navigate resources and systems, and offering flexible financial assistance.
Coaching and care (month one–six): This phase focuses on continuing to support basic needs while providing ongoing coaching and guidance from the Care Team. The goal is to help families achieve their personal goals and ensure they have access to the tools and resources necessary to maintain stability. Families are discharged from the program once their goals are met and they are able to maintain stability.
Aftercare support (discharge to month nine): After families have achieved their goals and are discharged from the active phase of the program, they continue to receive support through monthly check-ins with a Together with Families Coach. This phase ensures continued stability and offers additional support as needed, helping families sustain their progress.
Care Team: Each parent and kin caregiver is matched with a Together with Families Coach and Navigator. This dedicated Together with Families team guides the family as they face challenges such as securing childcare, housing, higher-paying jobs, and navigating systems and resources. With an open door policy, the Together with Families team creates a sense of hope, consistency, and guidance that helps families reach their goals. The Coach helps families develop personalized plans and access critical resources for their family. Support is family-led and the Care Team ensures the family is in a safe space as they work towards their goals and move their families to a place of stability.The Coach also maintains regular contact with the family, speaking with them at least once a week and meeting in person at least once a month. The initial visit occurs in the family’s home or where they are currently living. The Navigator plays a crucial role in finding resources within the community to meet the family’s needs, working through logistics to access these resources, and establishing and maintaining community partnerships and the Together with Families ecosystem.
The Care Team Partners with families to address social determinants of health and increase protective factors and relational health:
Reliable transportation: Ensuring families have reliable transportation to access resources, work, and educational opportunities.
Safe housing: Providing support to ensure safe housing.
Food security: Alleviating food insecurity through access to nutritious food.
Educational opportunities: Supporting both children and parents in pursu-
ing educational goals.
Medical and mental healthcare: Improving access to healthcare services.
Community support: Building connections within the community to foster a strong support network.
Workforce development: Connecting people to workforce development programs.
Social benefits: Assisting with applying for government benefits.
Childcare: Supporting access to affordable childcare.
Child development coaching: Coaching in child development and care.
Legal support: Connecting people to legal support as needed.
Design Team Fellowship
Overview: The Design Team Fellowship invites fellows in the Design Lab to contribute to the continued development and innovation of Together with Families. Fellows can be underserved parents, kin caregivers, or youth (seventeen and over) who are living below the poverty line and/or have been impacted by the child welfare system (priority given to TwF parent graduates).
Fellows must seek transferable skills for the workforce. This is a nine-month fellowship requiring a recommendation from a staff member or community partner before applying. A screening assessment, intake process, and qualifications are required. It prepares participants for future employment opportunities and co-design Together with Families programs and initiatives
Support Provided:
• Weekly in Person Training: Weekly one and a half hour meetings (two times a month in person, two times a month virtually). Training in computer skills, design thinking, Microsoft Suites, project management, budget overview, self-care, mindfulness, telling their story, program development, and other relevant skills.
• Input: Input into Together with Families programs, leveraging their lived expertise to co-design and provide program improvement.
• Leadership: Led by a Program Coordinator and Co-led by Design Team member. who has similar lived experiences to the families we serve.
Parent Ally Fellowship
Overview: The Parent Ally Fellowship is a nine-month fellowship for underserved parents or kin caregivers who either live below the poverty line or who have been impacted by the child welfare system. The fellowship is aimed at providing skills for jobs in social services. Entry into this program requires a recommendation from a staff member or community partner before applying. An assessment and intake process, as well as qualifications, are required. A stipend is provided for participants (priority is given to Together with Families program graduates). The Parent Ally Fellowship provides opportunities for personal growth, skill development, and self-actualization. It empowers parents and kin caregivers by enhancing their employability and leadership skills.
Support Provided:
• Duration: Runs from August–April with a graduation ceremony and certificates in April.
• Onboarding: one-month onboarding, background check, and initial training.
• Weekly Training Meetings: weekly in person training, basic training in child protective services, preventative law, life skills, protective factors, motivational interviewing, self-care and mindfulness, building rapport and relationships, mentorship, empathy, telling their own stories, and other skills.
• Leadership: Led by a Program Coordinator with similar lived experiences to the families we serve.
Parent Executive Advisors
Overview: Parent leaders co-lead the Advisory Council and Community Board, serving for two years. A stipend is provided. The Advisory Council meets four times a year. The Community Board meets monthly.
