Implementing and Evaluating the Family Finding Model

To determine if the Family Finding model can achieve permanent placement and improved outcomes for foster-care children in North Carolina, The Duke Endowment is providing more than $3 million to support a four-year program implementation and evaluation in nine counties.

Challenge

Many children languish in foster care or in children's homes because they have lost connections to family members who may be willing to step in and provide assistance or even permanent placement, or at least serve as a source of emotional support. But finding these estranged family members is a challenge, and most public and private child-serving agencies do not have the resources to step in. As a result, what could become a very viable option for permanent placement — and a critical network for emotional support — remains untapped, to the detriment of all involved.

Response

In 1999, youth and permanency expert Kevin Campbell created a model for finding family members of children in out-of-home care. His Family Finding approach is inspired by techniques used by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations for reuniting families separated by war, political conflict or natural disasters. The model is particularly applicable to areas of high poverty or high rates of out-of-home placements.

Multi-State Evaluation of Family Finding Model

Family Finding appears to be successful, has garnered national media attention and is currently beginning a multi-state evaluation. As part of that study, The Duke Endowment is supporting the implementation and evaluation of the Family Finding model in nine North Carolina counties. The North Carolina Department of Social Services administers the Family Finding project in Buncombe, Catawba, Gaston, Mecklenburg, New Hanover and Wake counties; and the Greensboro-based Children's Home Society of North Carolina administers the project in Cumberland, Durham and Guilford counties.

Family Finding includes six stages:

1. Discovering at least 40 family members of the child, using tools such as Internet searches and genealogical archives
2. Learning more about the child through close connections
3. Planning for the child's successful future with family members and others important to the child
4. Decision-making for the future, including plans for legal and emotional permanency,
5. Evaluating the permanency plan
6. Following up with the child and family

Child Trends, a national nonprofit organization that provides research on programs and policies that affect children and their families, is conducting the national randomized controlled study to scientifically measure the effectiveness of Family Finding. The Duke Endowment is exploring two key questions:

1. Will the Family Finding model lead to more permanent placements of children from foster care or group homes?
2. Do these placements improve a child's well-being?

Participating Sites in North Carolina

• Buncombe County
• Catawba County
• Cumberland County
• Gaston County
• Guilford County
• Mecklenburg County
• New Hanover County
• Wake County

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