Ohio Family and Children First
The purpose of Ohio Family and Children First (OFCF) is to help families seeking government services by streamlining and coordinating services, resources, and systems.
OFCF is a partnership of state and local government, communities and families that enhances the well-being of Ohio’s children and families by building community capacity, coordinating systems and services, and engaging and empowering families.
Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council and County Family and Children First Councils have a unique function to monitor, evaluate, and communicate progress on Ohio’s commitments to child well-being. This shared accountability can only be achieved if the other three core functions are operationalized: engaging and empowering families, building community capacity, and coordinating systems and services. Shared accountability rests on all family and children first council members (state and local). A solidly funded infrastructure must exist for this work to be accomplished. This infrastructure is governed and supported by council members (state and local). It has mechanisms in place to allow for creative and innovative solutions that will streamline and strengthen the local service delivery system for children and families. When all functions of council are working in concert, the elements of collaboration can be found: common mission and goals, interrelated roles that constitute a division of labor, comprehensive planning, multiple channels of communication, dispersed leadership, shared risk, and shared results (Payne, Devol, and Smith; Bridges Out of Poverty; 2001).
For more information, visit www.fcf.ohio.gov
