East Region Child Welfare Services / Neighborhoods for Kids - Bella Vista Community Engagement Project

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

East Region Child Welfare Services (CWS), Neighborhoods for Kids is in its third year of using a creative team field internship to reduce child abuse, increase safety and family well-being, and build a stronger sense of community among residents in a 150-unit apartment complex. Social work interns utilized community partnerships with local police, community agencies, schools and businesses along with existing CWS data and resident input to identify concerns and formulate initial engagement efforts within the complex. After understanding the needs of the community, the interns developed a thorough conceptual framework to engage this community in an attempt to reduce child abuse and neglect. The social work interns worked with residents as true partners throughout the entire project. Currently the residents have raised enough money to purchase new, safer playground equipment for the complex and are working with a local artist to have all of the children participate in painting a large outdoor mural in the hopes of diminishing graffiti. Initial outcomes demonstrate a positive change in the reduction of reported child abuse and neglect and enhanced social connections among residents. Additionally the apartment complex has been listed as a member of the Crime Free Housing community.