This month, families in Sacramento County taking part in California’s Family First Economic Support Pilot (FFESP) program are slated to receive their upcoming payment of $725. The initiative, which provides monthly financial support, aims to alleviate economic strain for low-income families, assisting in efforts to minimize economic challenges and deter involvement with the child welfare system.
Newsweek contacted a spokesperson from Sacramento County via email on Tuesday.
Importance of the Program
The FFESP reflects a larger endeavor to confront economic inequalities in California, with a specific focus on low-income families with young children. The program aims to decrease the frequency of child neglect and to prevent families from entering the foster care system, as reported by KXJZ.
Officials in Sacramento County indicate that economic instability significantly contributes to investigations by child protective services. “Our goal is to ensure that children never have to interact with the child welfare system or, if they do at a young age, to prevent repeat involvement as they grow older,” stated Macy Obernuefemann, a spokesperson for Sacramento County, according to KXJZ.
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Essential Information
According to a now inactive program website, the FFESP receives funding from a state block grant provided by the California Department of Social Services, as highlighted by KXJZ. The program aims to assist 200 families across six designated ZIP codes in Sacramento County: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828, and 95838, as reported by MSN.
Applications for participation closed on October 13, and recipients were chosen through a lottery system. This approach was implemented to maintain fairness in the selection process among those eligible.
The initiative was crafted to deliver focused support to communities that have faced significant challenges linked to economic hardship and the involvement of the foster care system. Additionally, only families responsible for the care of children aged five or younger were eligible to apply, according to Fox40.
Another eligibility criterion pertained to income. Families had to demonstrate a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level to ensure that assistance is provided to those most in need financially.
Moreover, applicants must reside within the specified ZIP codes in Sacramento County. These regions were selected based on data reflecting higher levels of economic distress and a larger likelihood of involvement with the child welfare system.
Community Feedback
A statement from the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services indicates: “The Family First Economic Support Pilot is currently under revision. More details will be available shortly.”
Kristi Baumbach, a program planner within the county’s Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services, remarked in a KXJZ article: “When families are given the dignity of choice regarding how to best fulfill their needs, the positive effects can directly address their unique situations.”
Future Steps
The FFESP is set to disburse payments on a monthly basis for a period of one year, with plans to assess the program’s effectiveness following this timeframe.
