The goals of Rock Families First are to:
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After two years of system readiness and community mobilizing, a design sprint in October 2022 resulted in the IDEABOOK: A New Future for Families – created in partnership with parents in Rock County.
Internal capacity building and community co-design work in Rock County since 2019 has lead to an overall decrease in the number of youth in care by 60% and the use of residential care by 34%.
A Community Cultivator hired by Alia leads the effort of engage impacted parents in Beloit (a group now self-described as the “BeeHive”) to co-create ways of addressing the three project goals. The ultimate vision is to promote family stability and wellbeing.
The BeeHive
In the heart of Rock County, Wisconsin, there exists a haven for women impacted by Rock County Human Services called the BeeHive: a sisterhood, a village, a safe space where women can come together to share their stories, support one another, and find strength in their shared experiences.
Rock County project update
Rock County Human Services, the BeeHive, and Alia have been hard at work to turn the co-designed ideas into action; most recently, parents and systems folks came together to begin to develop a practice model for RCHS.
Reflections from a BeeHive member
Being intentional to shift the power dynamic and create a place for CPS workers and parents to show up as humans and co-create a new way for child welfare to work is a labor of love. Learn more about this work from a project team member and a powerful parent leader.
Project Overview
Rock Families First is a movement powered by trust; therefore trust-building is the projectʼs top priority for all involved. System leaders and workers spent time in preparation, creating readiness to receive (not just hear) the experiences of impacted parents, and continue to focus on trust.