The Family Ties Project promotes the well being of District of Columbia (DC) children, youth, and families affected by HIV/AIDS by working with parents and caregivers to plan for the future care of their children. First funded in 1996, in October 2000 the Family Ties Project was awarded its second 4-year grant, designating $449,532 for the period September 30, 2000 through September 29, 2001 from the federal Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) as part of a national competitive grant program to reduce the burden of infants and children abandoned or orphaned because of AIDS. The program's legislative authority is based on the Abandoned Infants Assistance (AIA) Act of 1988 (PL 100-505), and Amendments of 1991 (PL 102-236) and 1996 (104-235).
In 1996, the Consortium for Child Welfare (CCW) obtained a 4-year Abandoned Infants Assistance (AIA) demonstration grant to develop and provide permanency planning services to parents and caregivers affected by HIV/AIDS. The Family Ties Project was launched October 1996the first project in DC to provide life planning-related services to uninfected as well as infected children. The project defines its mission as to promote and preserve the well-being of children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS by working with parents and caregivers to plan for the future care of their children.
The Family Ties Project provides both direct services to clients, and training, consultation and case conferences to other providers. All services are free of charge. Direct client services fall into 4 general categories: legal services; counseling and short term therapy, including art therapy; case management directed toward kinship care families; and training in parenting or caring for a child with HIV.
Family Ties Project goals continue to be: