About CFC

Who We Are

Founded in 1999 by Kate Cleary, Consortium for Children (CFC) was created to fill identified gaps in the child welfare system. Our programs take a unique approach to meeting the needs of children, families and professionals in this realm. CFC created Permanency Planning Mediation (PPM) to assist in the development of post adoption/legal guardianship agreements between families of origin and prospective permanent families in California with the goal of preventing further loss for children by maintaining important connections, and potentially expediting their exit from foster care. CFC identified qualified mediators, developed a structured training program, and acquired a state contract to support this important piece of the child welfare mosaic throughout the state.

CFC expanded with the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) program, which was created to train and support child welfare professionals who conduct home studies for foster and adoptive families. Using a previously developed research-based evaluation tool, Kate’s vision was to standardize the methodology, develop a training platform and make it widely available to public and private child welfare agencies in order to promote safety, permanence and well-being for children and youth. Translated into three languages and currently used throughout the United States and Canada, SAFE provides a uniform home study tool which also facilitates inter-state and inter-country placements. Today, the Consortium for Children has achieved international recognition for its unique contribution to child welfare and adoption. PPM and SAFE have led the way in helping children move to permanence while maintaining their important connections, as well as ensuring the quality and safety of their homes.

PPM Mission

We help families have conversations about how children can have ongoing connections with important people in their lives. We believe when families focus on children’s needs, communicate respectfully, and understand each other, children feel more secure, valued, and loved.

PPM Vision

We want children to have healthy, lasting relationships with people they care about and who care about them. We envision families working together to support children's sense of belonging, identity, and wellbeing.

Guiding Principles

• We believe in placing the best interests of children and youth first.
• We approach every interaction with integrity and transparency.
• We believe in creating a shared sense of purpose with our partners to ensure best outcomes.
• We believe in research-based techniques and data-driven best practices as the foundation to assist professionals and families in making informed decisions.
• We treat everyone with respect and dignity, both within our company and with our partners.
• We firmly believe in and value inclusion and equity. We are committed to taking meaningful and sustainable action to dismantle systemic racism and discrimination.