Prevention and Diversion programs are designed to provide proactive and targeted interventions to children and families at risk of entering the child welfare system. The programs focus on proactive, family-centered interventions to stabilize households, secure child safety, and reduce the likelihood that children will need to be removed from their homes. 

Prevention programs work to identify families who are experiencing housing and financial hardships, or other stressors that may affect the safety of their children. Additionally, the programs focus on helping children with behavioral difficulties that may cause an interruption in their school attendance. Through case management, counseling, referrals to community resources, and more, these programs focus on helping families create safe and stable home environments. The programs may address such issues as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, homelessness and other issues with the goal of keeping the issues from escalating into crisis requiring formal child welfare involvement. 

Diversion programs help families by providing them alternatives when they are on the verge of formal child welfare involvement. The programs collaborate with families to find safe, community-based solutions that keep children with their families. Diversion services may include referrals to resources such as housing assistance, childcare, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and more. The goal of diversion programs is to help families resolve issues that could result in child removal, while at all times making the safety and well-bring of children a priority. 

Through a combination of education, case management, community referrals, and preventative care, the programs focus on keeping children safely in their homes and with their families. By promoting stability, Prevention and Diversion programs empower children and families to safely outside of the child welfare system.