Last October, a group of 80 invited leaders from philanthropy, government, and the private sector gathered in Seattle to think about ways to fundamentally transform how we work with vulnerable children and their families.

Last October, a group of 80 invited leaders from philanthropy, government, and the private sector gathered in Seattle to think about ways to fundamentally transform how we work with vulnerable children and their families.

The meeting was sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Casey Family Programs, Building Changes, Corporation for Supportive Housing, and National Alliance to End Homelessness, all of whom are Funders Together members or partners.

In January, Building Changes released a summary report from the meeting, Silos to Systems: Solutions for Vulnerable Families).pdf.

According to the summary: “The meeting provided an opportunity for people who play different types of leadership roles in separate systems and organizations to establish or strengthen existing connections with influential leaders from other sectors and organiza­tions, and to share ideas, expertise, evidence, and promising approaches.”

Meeting participants, who had been brought together to begin developing a shared agenda around vulnerable families, focused their discussions on three related goals:

• Improving skills, employment opportunities, and incomes for families living in poverty;

• Supporting the well-being of families that come to the attention of the child welfare system because children’s basic needs are not being met; and

• Preventing and ending family homelessness.

In addition, two background papers summarizing key findings from research about needs, solutions, and opportunities for policy reform and systems change were prepared for the meeting:

• Preserving and Strengthening Families and Children Experiencing Recurring Child Welfare System Encounters and Housing Crises (prepared by Corporation for Supportive Housing)

• Connecting Vulnerable Families to Work and Incomes to Prevent and End Homelessness by Building Changes)

According to the summary report: “In the months following the meeting, attendees have encouraged policy reform and systems change efforts aligned with the goals of Silos to Systems. In the months ahead, they will continue to push forth recommendations for integrated solutions for vulnerable families.”