Families in Transition (FIT)

Families in Transition (FIT) forms a bridge carrying children from the trauma of homelessness and housing insecurity to the supports they need to promote life-long health and well-being. FIT’s trauma-informed care includes tailored developmental assessments, community based early supports, infant mental health services, therapeutic playgroups, and specialized parenting education.

Who FIT Serves

In 2020, King County’s Point in Time count identified over 1,000 homeless families with children. Nationally, most families experiencing homelessness are households headed by single women and have children younger than six. Kindering’s FIT program supports children up to age 8 and their families. Our multilingual team is carefully vetted and trained to provide services at the highest level, tailored to meet the cultural, linguistic, and other unique needs of our diverse families.

Children in families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity historically experience high rates of developmental delays, learning difficulties, and emotional problems as a product of precarious living situations and extreme poverty (Children’s Health Watch). Each child and family that FIT reaches is supported with early support services, parent education, and/or staff-led play groups.

Community-Embedded Supports

In order to overcome barriers to accessing services, we meet families where they are, delivering community-based services including transitional housing facilities, shelters, churches, and other trusted locations. As a client-need centered program, FIT collaborates with community partners to identify and fully support homeless children and families. Our Outreach Coordinator deepens existing and developing new partnerships including the King County Coalition on Homelessness, Mary’s Place, YWCA, Hopelink, Sophia Way, community courts, libraries, human service agencies, and many more. FIT also works with Kindering’s agency partnerships, for example, those with school districts, pediatricians, and public health agencies.

Program Growth

In line with Kindering’s other programs, FIT services are offered free to participants, regardless of their financial means. Funding is wholly dependent on the financial support of donors. In 2019, FIT served 155 children and their families, 350% more than in previous years. Community partners who work with and support the FIT program include: the cities of Bothell, Issaquah, Kirkland, and Redmond; United Way of Snohomish County; Lockwood Foundation; Windermere Foundation; Homeward House; and the Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop.

Jessica’s Story

Though our FIT families have unique stories and circumstances, each exemplify the need for personalized support for families experiencing trauma. One such family is a stunning example of the complexity and importance of our work: Jessica is two-years-old and her family lives in transitional housing.

The family had previous involvement with Child Welfare due to substance abuse; but, have since been reunited with Jessica and are now living clean and sober.

After their Child Welfare case closed, Kindering was able to provide on-going Family Support services to help them maintain their parenting skills, even as they face the on-going stress of housing instability.

Liz, our family support services therapist, provides trauma-informed parent coaching and helps them enact strategies to deal with Jessica’s emotions and behaviors, which include helping her express frustration without screaming or hitting and being able to separate calmly from her parents (including at night time to sleep in her own bed) and adjust to her new baby brother who was just born. The Kindering FIT team and support is a great way for Jessica’s parents to continue to develop strong parenting skills.

Currently Jessica and her parents participate in our co-op class to help her develop social skills and help her parents connect with other parents.

For more information or to schedule an evaluation, contact Jill Clacy at (425) 289-7523 or email Jill.Clacy@Kindering.Org.