By tapping into the unique talents and resources present in any neighborhood, JFF has been able to form local team networks who come together in responding to community needs and opportunities in real time.  In various capacities, these groups are working together to ensure the success of children, youth, and families in their schools, homes, and community by working toward:

• Changing the way community-based services are delivered so they are accessible, integrated, customer-focused, and address local needs;
• Increasing efforts to intervene earlier and prevent problems before they occur;
• Building collaborative team networks with area partners to help connect families to supports available locally;
• Developing a locally informed understanding of both common service gaps experienced by families, as well as, opportunities to meet these challenges;
• Encouraging community members to come together to talk about what matters to them and to build off of the strengths and capacities of local people in addressing challenges.

Each JFF site has one community social worker that:

• Is familiar with resources available in your community
• Works to build connections to other local services, agencies, and people
• Is available to speak with you directly

These local connections and knowledge allow JFF workers to offer direct and task-centered, client-driven assistance that includes:

• An open door and accessible person to hear directly from you
• Advocacy services, resource referral, and problem solving assistance
• Clear information on housing resources available and how to access them
• Support in accessing and navigating government nd non-profit programs
• Connection to neighborhood-specific services, resources, and opportunities

Reasons to connect with your area JFF may include:

• I need help and I’m not sure where to start
• I need help understanding what supportive services are available in my community
• I need to find out what housing supports are out there and how to access them
• I need to identify what mental health services, employment services, early childhood support, domestic violence services, or other resources are out there and how to access them
• I work in the community and I am hoping to connect with other individuals and agencies that operate locally
• I am hoping to connect a family with support from JFF
• I live in the neighborhood and want to know what community efforts are happening