Project Grant H79SM087752

PROJECT LAUNCH - DETROIT IS A CITY OF RESILIENCE, AN URBAN CENTER WITH A MAJORITY POPULATION OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND HAS A HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE RATE OF POVERTY THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. GAPS EXIST RELATIVE TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT GROWTH OF CHILDREN AGES 0-8. FURTHERMORE, ALMOST 10% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION ARE STILL WITHOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE. PER THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, HALF OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS EXPERIENCE ONSET BY THE AGE OF 14. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH IN TARGETED COMMUNITIES THAT EMPOWERS PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN COMMUNITIES WITH CONCENTRATED POVERTY AND LIMITED ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH RESOURCES. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND AWARENESS OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF CHILDREN, AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE EARLY ASSESSMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE NECESSARY SERVICES TO PUT THEM ON A PATH OF WELL-BEING. THIS MODEL INCORPORATES A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INCLUDES CASE MANAGEMENT, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, EARLY INTERVENTION AND COMMITTED PARTNERS. IN THE FOUR CATCHMENT AREAS IDENTIFIED IN THIS PROJECT, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 YEARS OLD (APPROXIMATELY 46.4%) WHO NEED TO BE SERVED THAT EXCEED THE NUMBER OF LICENSED DAY CARE PROVIDERS IN THE RESPECTIVE AREAS. THIS MEANS THAT THE WORK OF BFDI'S PROJECT LAUNCH PROGRAM WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN TO BE ASSESSED AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TRAINED TO CHANGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAJECTORY OF CHILDREN. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT STATISTICS SHOW THAT BEYOND THE AGE OF 5, SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE NOT MEETING THE THIRD GRADE ELA STANDARDS, WHICH FURTHER SUPPORTS THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL EMPOWER PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CHILD CARE THROUGH TRAININGS USING EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS SUCH AS PARENTS AS TEACHERS, AGES & STAGES AND MORE.