Social services Cuyahoga County offers returns on investments

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The government would pay charitable organizations a small return on investments in very successful social programs under an innovative “pay for success” partnership announced recently in Ohio’s largest county.

Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, is partnering with FrontLine Service, a homeless-services provider, in the effort.

The Partnering for Family Success program aims to reconnect foster children from families that are homeless with their relatives in stable, affordable housing. The program will deliver 12- to 15-month treatment to 135 families over five years to reduce the length of stay in out-of-home foster care for these families’ children.

Results will be rigorously tracked, with the county repaying up-front investments by several private funders if goals are met and adding a small return on investment if goals are exceeded.

“Homeless families with children in out-of-home foster care should have access to programs that allow them to reunite with their children and provide a stable housing environment to help children thrive,” County Executive Ed FitzGerald said in a statement.

He said the program offers an innovative model for the county to support FrontLine’s services, track outcomes, and drive resources toward better outcomes for children and their families. It also will improve accountability for government spending, FitzGerald said.

The program has received funding from The Reinvestment Fund, The George Gund Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and the Nonprofit Finance Fund.