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Our Work
Our Kids > About Us > Our Work
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 Our Kids is a Florida non-profit corporation created in response to the need for local control and leadership of our child welfare system.
 
The Florida Department of Children and Families awarded Our Kids a Community Based Care (CBC) Lead Agency status.
 
 
 
 
Community Leadership Model
 
Our Kids is distinguished by a unique design referred to as a Community Leadership Model. The large and diverse board of trustees was specifically selected to represent the communities of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties in the creation, development and oversight of a privatized, local foster care system. Unlike many community-based care lead agencies in Florida, Our Kids Board is completely divested, disinterested and independent of its network of direct service providers. Nearly all mandated direct services are delivered by subcontracted local agencies
 
Our Performance
 
  • Since transitioning from DCF in 2005, Our Kids has reduced the number of children that live away from their families by 47% or 1,589 less children.
  • Since July 2006, Our Kids has reduced the number of children in Miami and the Keys that remain in foster care and/or away from their parents longer than 12 months by 55% or 984 less children.
  • Since July 2006, Our Kids has increased the number of intact families served by 40% or an increase of 595 children home with parents.
  • This year, we received over 5,150 children’s cases.  68% of these families were safely diverted with early intervention services, this represents over 3,500 children safely kept out of foster care.
  • Since July 2005, Our Kids has created more than 2,000 families through adoption.  Each year Our Kids is a state leader in adoptions and we have exceeded our contract target every year.
  • Since July 2009, Our Kids has reduced the average length of stay for children living away from their parents by 10 months.
  • Today, on average, 79% of Miami’s children who return home within 12 months of entering foster care, an increase of 30% since 2005.
  • Since transitioning from DCF, the number of runaway or missing children in Miami has decreased by 40%.
  • Since 2005, the percentage of Miami’s children that are adopted within 24 months of entering foster care has risen 32% and exceeds the federal standard.
  • We are a state leader in the timely completion of initial behavioral health assessments.  Since 2005, the percentage of Miami’s children that receive a comprehensive medical, educational and behavioral assessment within 30 days of entering foster care increased 80%. 
  • We are a state leader in ensuring foster children regularly see a pediatrician and dentist for preventive health care.
  • We manage our mobile workforce and outfit them with the best technology available to keep kids safe. 
    • All of our caseworkers and supervisors have laptops, blackberries and internet connectivity. 
    • 5 million sheets of paper have been scanned and indexed.  Case files are digital and accessible through a secure internet portal. 
    • Children’s monthly home visits are documented by a digital photo and GPS data.
  • We are a state leader in keeping children in our care safe.

We are a state leader in keeping children from re-entering the system

Recent accomplishments in 2010/2011:
 
  • We are proud to have completed the highest number of adoptions in Florida by finding forever families for 433 children.
  • We successfully introduced Structured Decision Making, a nationally recognized protocol for using evidenced based assessment tools into our Intake process, partnering with the Judiciary and the Department of Children and Families in the Southern Region so that all use the same language in assessing risk and safety for our families in need.
  • Over the past two years, 4,500 children were safely diverted from entering foster care by providing family support and directing families to preservation services.
  • We created a Nurse Case Management Department that is ensuring that all children receive regular medical and dental care. 100% of children entering care receive a Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment (CBHA) within 45 days of entering care.  All children between 1 month of age to 66 months are provided with ongoing developmental screenings using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 to promptly identify developmental delays and to ensure they receive appropriate early intervention services.
  • We put guidance counselors in the local high schools to provide foster youth with the support they need to stay in school.
  • We launched an innovative program, called Youth Life Conferencing to help ensure youth aging out of foster care had support systems in place to become successful and contributing members of society.
  • With the help of our community partners, we were able to reduce the number of youth without plans for connecting with a family by 54%.
  • We launched our PenPal project in the courtrooms, capturing legal information instantly and reducing delays in finding permanent solutions for our children.
  • We continue to receive local and national recognition for our innovative work. 

    (link to AWARDS).​
 
 
Regional Operations
 
Located in the Our Kids regional service hubs in Miami-Dade County and Key West, we provide management and oversight of the assigned case management agencies ensuring individualized and strength-based delivery of services.  The hub serves as the focal point for services and is where day-to-day client related services occur, thus providing easy access for technical assistance and support.
 
Intake
 
Our Kids’ Intake is available 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week. We serve as the front door to the system of care. Intake triages every case presented by DCF Protective Investigators (PI) and helps determine the most appropriate services for the family.
 
To contact Our Kids Intake call (305) 455-1055
 
Collaboration and Partnership
Our Kids Intake Staff are co-located with DCF Protective Investigators in the four service regions (North, Central, South and Monroe). Together we complete service assessments. All Intake staff received training from Children’s Research Center (CRC) regarding their evidence based, Structured Decision Making (SDM). Intake uses SDM’s Safety and Risk Assessments on 100% of all referrals.
 
Engaging Families for Success
Our Kids along with our DCF partners are committed to preserving families whenever possible by utilizing early intervention services. Our Kids Family Preservation/Prevention System of Care provides intensive in-home services to families who are at risk of coming into the Dependency System through two programs:   Safe at Home (SAH) and Parents as Partners (PAP). These intensive in-home services are developed in accordance with the National Family Preservation Network and “Best Practice” Standards as outlined by the Council on Accreditation.
  • Staff is available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Therapist’s (or family consultant’s) caseloads do not exceed four families
  • The program's staff respond immediately to families (as fast as two hours if necessary)
  • Services are available during evenings and weekends, and are time limited to 6 weeks with the option for one extension of an additional 6 weeks if approved by Our Kids. 
We also offer family preservation/prevention services, Voluntary Family Services (VFS), for families determined to be low risk but who may benefit from some monitoring, referral for services and case management.  We often use VFS as a “step-down” service when the family has received more intense services from SAH and/or PAP. 
 
Clinical Services
 
The Clinical Program manages the assessment and referral process for behavioral health services including mental health residential programs. We are committed to ensuring that emotional and behavioral problems of children entering the child welfare system are identified promptly, that services are initiated to meet each child’s individual needs and that the quality of services is monitored continuously. In addition, the clinical department offers ongoing consultation and trainings to child welfare staff and community stakeholders.
 
Shelter and Residential Group Care
 
Shelter and Residential Group Care Homes provide temporary emergency care for boys and girls of various ages. The homes provide a safe emergency shelter, treatment and intervention services for abused and neglected children who are experiencing parent-child conflicts, or for adolescents who have run away from home.
 
Crisis Intervention
 
Although the state of crisis is usually short lived, generally lasting 4 to 6 weeks, it is a period of heightened family vulnerability and imbalance that can result in serious consequences. Intensive targeted services are provided to the family.
 
Family Preservation
 
Family Preservation services provide intensive family support to children and families at risk of abuse or neglect. Services include monitoring the well-being of children while addressing the factors that place children at-risk of out-of-home placement
 
Case Management
 
Case Management services provide supervision of a child's placement to ensure safety and stability. A comprehensive and personalized action plan is prepared for each child. Services for the child are coordinated based on the action plan. Advocacy on behalf of the child at court is provided to expedite resolution.
 
Independent Living
 
Independent Living services prepare older children in foster care to transition to self sufficiency as adults. Assessments and life skills training is provided. Eligible youths who exit foster care at age 18 are assisted with scholarships, financial aid, housing aid and referrals to other community services.
 
eKids
Our Kids in collaboration with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has developed an online educational program that students and parent can use at home called "eKids". This program is tailored to provide intensive and explicit interventions aimed at individual students in the third grade who are struggling with the core school curriculum. To assist with the success of this program and provide support to the families in utilizing this program, tutors are assigned to the students.
We are pleased to announce that the Batchelor Foundation has agreed to fund the 2011 continuation of our successful 2010 educational pilot program, "E-Kids."

eKids Destination Reading Success Story Flyer
eKids Destination Reading Success Story Flyer (Hi Res PDF)