The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) received a Synergy Initiative Implementation Year 3 grant of $493,523 in 2024 for the Encompass: Community and Collaboration for Foster Families project.  Encompass is a foster parent supports initiative to improve recruitment and retention of foster parents and outcomes for children in foster care by providing foster parents (including kinship caregivers) with one-on-one peer trauma coaching, peer support programs, and extended community supports. Many foster parents report a lack of training and resources and as a result of the pandemic and social isolation, they are being asked to care for children with increased trauma-related behavioral health needs in the absence of supports that are typically available. In the next year, Encompass will focus on activities related to sustainability.  The priorities include implementation of the Behavioral Health Partner program in Central Massachusetts and testing and implementing a new screening tool developed in partnership with the NORC evaluation team. 

2024 – Implementation, Year 3	$493,523
2023 – Implementation, Year 2	$517,740
2022 – Implementation, Year 1	$439,676
2021 – Pilot Grant	$424,815
2020 – Planning Grant	$232,920
Total	$2,108,674

A trauma-informed intervention for foster caregivers in Central MA: A mixed methods pilot evaluation
Encompass Logic Model

News
◊ State’s foster care system needs many hands lifting it in support
Boston Globe, September 5, 2023
◊ Encompass Program to help Foster Families
WCCA TV, June 24, 2021
◊ Encompass program offers support system for Worcester area foster parents
Telegram & Gazette, May 24, 2021