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History
| In 1993, Illinois began exploring ways to deliver human services that would improve the lives of children and families, and help to build stronger communities throughout the state. With the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Governor's Task Force on Human Services Reform a new approach for delivering human services in the state of Illinois was tested in five Illinois communities. Springfield was one of the five communities chosen to participate in the pilot. Illinois became a pioneer in changing the face of human services delivery and leading the nation in welfare reform.
The Federation since its inception was designed to be more than a mere advisory group, planning body, or a coordinating council. The goal is to utilize the combined influence of both public and private sector leaders to make strategic decisions and recommendations on how services should be provided and funded. The Federation seeks to make system-wide changes which will result in services being less fragmented, more coherent, and more responsive to the community's self identified needs. The Federation has adopted the strategy of strengthening the family support network by alleviating family poverty, while simultaneously addressing the much larger and complex societal issues such as education, transportation, job creation, healthcare and childcare. The Springfield Community Federation continues to find innovative ways to provide human services to children and families in Springfield. |
Mission
| To improve the lives of children and families in the Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area, by restructuring the Human Services delivery system through the establishment of community priorities and needs and by coordinating the full range of public and private resources. | |
