D S S P R E S S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release:
May 24, 2007
Contact: Sara Anderson
(573) 526-0407
DSS Employee Honored for Incarcerated and Ex-Offender Fathers Project
Missouri Project for Children of Incarcerated Fathers Gains National Recognition
Kansas City - Kathy LeFebvre, grant coordinator for the Family Support Division (FSD) received the State Champion Award last week from The Region VII Head Start Association. The association which represents Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska presents the award annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to improving the lives of children, youth and families. LeFebvre was honored for her work developing the Strengthening Families: Children of Incarcerated Fathers project.
“Kathy’s work on this grant is yet another example of the hard work and dedication our employees give each and every day,” said Janel Luck, Family Support Division (FSD) Director. “FSD thanks Kathy for her devotion to a wonderful project that will have a great impact on the children and families it serves.”
LeFebvre's project was selected from more than 600 applicants and is currently in its second year of a three-year implementation. Building on an earlier project, the Incarcerated Fathers Collaboration Project, a proposal was developed to create a model that could be replicated in Head Start programs across the country. The model is designed to address the effects poverty and incarcerated parents have on young children and their families. An independent evaluation is underway to track the long-term outcomes for children and families.
In 2003, there were more than 112,000 children with a parent under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Of the almost 19,000 children in Head Start and Early Head Start in Missouri, it is estimated that approximately 10 percent had a parent in prison. The project is currently being piloted in five Head Start programs throughout Missouri with a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 children. To date over 1,215 incarcerated and ex-offender fathers are being trained and educated. The project will be available to every Missouri Head Start Program in July. It will be available nationwide in December of 2008.
The following Head Start programs have been pilot sites for the Children of Incarcerated Fathers project:
- Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Head Start, Portageville
- Missouri Valley Community Action Agency Head Start, Marshall
- East Missouri Action Agency, Park Hills
- Grace Hill Settlement House Head Start, St. Louis
- Community Action Agency of Greater St. Joseph Head Start, St. Joseph
