Changes in the structure of families and the economy coupled with a lack of affordable health and child care have made it increasingly difficult for parents to adequately provide for their young children. This report was developed jointly by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services as a practical resource for communities seeking to improve the coordination of education and health delivery programs. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration among members of the community and the agencies who serve them. The current social welfare system divides the problems of children and families into rigid categories and fails to the recognize the often interrelated causes and effects. The current system lacks effective communication and cooperation among its various public and private agencies and thereby fails to meet the needs of children and families.
Agencies are currently over-specialized and are unable to craft comprehensive solutions.
Working from these identified problems, this report proposes a set of characteristics that a profamily system must have and offers a detailed five-stage process for community members to follow to reach their goals. Numerous samples and anecdotes of successful and unsuccessful programs illustrate the process. In addition, the report offers an in-depth analysis of four programs, each of which is working to meet its profamily goals in a distinctive and effective way. This publication s appendices include a checklist for the five-stage process and a directory of organizational contacts and resources.