Moving Families Forward
Moving Families Forward (MFF) is a collaborative effort between Children.s
Research Triangle, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Chestnut Health
Systems, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. MFF is
funded through a five year grant from the Administration for Children and
Families, Children's Bureau (ACF) designed to promote the development of
strategies to improve collaboration between substance abuse treatment providers
and the child welfare system in order to improve safety, permanency and stability
of children and families affected by methamphetamine and other substances of
abuse.
As part of MFF, all children affected by prenatal or environment exposure to
methamphetamine or other substances of abuse are eligible for participation in
clinic based services, which include comprehensive medical, psychological and
developmental evaluations, individual/family therapy, and group treatment.
Referrals can be made by community agencies and include biological, adoptive and
foster families. Community based trainings will be conducted by MFF staff to
educate community members and treatment providers about the effects of prenatal
and environmental substance exposure on children, as well as how to identify
families at risk and refer them to appropriate treatment services. The Regional
Work Group, consisting of community and state agencies concerned with child
welfare, will regularly meet in order to address community needs and help
facilitate systems integration.
