The people who play parental roles in our lives shape who we are, create our own idea of a successful family experience. But what happens when those caregivers face an obstacle that throws them for a loop – job and benefits losses, divorce, child abuse or domestic violence, addictions, expensive health problems, or being uprooted from their home? Why do some families survive while others spiral the problems into the next generation? How can we as a community put the right tools in families’ hands to help them succeed?

About the Family Success Initiative
CICF believes that too many of our neighbors face poor results caused by: asset and income gaps, insufficient education and workforce skills, destructive behaviors (child, spouse, and substance abuse), lack of health care, and destabilized family structures.

Our goal is to help self-motivated families (adult caregivers with children) overcome the obstacles they face in breaking these cycles of poor results. They could be the working poor who still cannot meet some of their families’ basic needs (let alone build assets), families who are one to two paychecks away from losing their homes, and families who are already homeless.

Stay tuned to the Web site as our initiatives evolve and we post news and opportunities.

Current Activities

• Family Circles – More than 1,000 Marion County residents have used these small groups to discuss common concerns and develop strategies for strengthening families in their neighborhoods. Small grants from The Indianapolis Foundation help them implement projects ranging from neighborhood peace rallies and festivals to youth programs after school. CICF works with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center to sponsor the process.

• Family Strengthening Coalition – CICF helped found this growing coalition focusing government and service systems, citizens, congregations, and businesses on strengthening families. The Coalition supports the community in a broad range of strategies to keep families strong, capable, and connected. Thousands of people have participated in its programs. The Indianapolis Foundation has funded its annual Family Strengthening Summit and other operating costs.

• Legacy Fund Community Initiative – Legacy Fund is leveraging more than $200,000 from 2004-2007 to address adolescent alcohol and substance abuse in Hamilton County.

• The Indianapolis Foundation Leadership Grant – The Indianapolis Foundation is leveraging more than $500,000 from 2005-2007 to help motivated low-income families in Marion County create stronger financial futures for themselves.

Past Activities

• Families Count Awards – From 2001-2003, CICF and other sponsors encouraged Marion County families to nominate organizations to win $5,000 for their family strengthening work. Click here to see highlights of previous winners of the Indianapolis Families Count Awards. Previous winners shared their family strengthening experiences at two “What’s Working Forums in 2003.” Read a report summarizing their views and best practices.