Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project: Making An Impact

Click here to see the full report.

Approved last February by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, PIDP is a partnership between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and community organizations, including First 5 LA. The project works towards strengthening families and providing opportunities to increase the safety and well-being of children through a variety of integrated strategies.

Under the project each of the PIDP networks, which represent eight areas within L.A. County, is implementing strategies which include: building social networks using strengths-based and relationship-focused community organizing approaches; increasing economic opportunities and development, and increasing access to and use of services and resources.

The Year 1 Evaluation Summary Report was prepared to understand the benefits of network collaboration and identify areas for improvement. Casey Family Programs, a foundation focused on foster care, and USC co-led the project's evaluation with researchers from First 5 LA, UCLA and Claremont Graduate University.

"Child safety is a key goal at First 5 LA and we're always looking for opportunities to contribute to the prevention of child abuse," said Bill Gould, research analyst at First 5 LA. "We are excited to be part of this evaluation partnership as we feel quality prevention efforts can have long-term impacts for families," he added, noting First 5 LA funded the research work of Tina Christie, associate professor at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Christie served as First 5 LA's lead researcher in the project's evaluation and was a member of the report's team of authors.       

The report looked at effects of the PIDP and found:

• PIDP networks are building on existing programs and adding opportunities for family economic success.

• Participating agencies are blending funding from several sources.

• Parents and youth are reporting greater involvement in the community and feeling less isolated.

A PIDP evaluation advisory group will make a presentation on the report's findings at the First 5 LA office, 750 N. Alameda, Los Angeles 90012, on Jan. 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  For details, contact Bill Gould at BGould@first5la.org, or (213) 482-7550.

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