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Intensive Family Preservation

Intensive Family Preservation

Overview

The Intensive Family Preservation service is based on the understanding that it’s in the child’s best interests to remain in the care of their family, wherever this is a safe option. The service targets families with children aged from birth to 18 years who meet the eligibility criteria. The focus is to improve children’s safety, placement permanency and wellbeing. It’s an evidence-based program that teaches families new problem-solving skills to prevent future crisis and prevent unnecessary placement in the Out of Home Care system for families referred solely by the NSW Dept of Communities and Justice.

We work with families for a period of 6 months providing intensive casework support. This is mainly through structured home visits supported with a 24 hour on-call phone support access to a caseworker for the first 3 months. This comprises individual support tailored to families’ self-identified needs, goals and values.

Aims of the Intensive Family Preservation Program:

  • To keep children at home in a safe, stable & nurturing family environment
  • Improve parenting capacity and family functioning
  • Improve children’s wellbeing
  • Prevent unneccesary placement into Out of Home Care

Our support includes:

  • advice and referral
  • assessment and case planning
  • counselling
  • family focused casework
  • home visiting
  • parenting skills and knowledge of child development
  • family functioning
  • building confidence, restore hope and goal setting
  • building connection with community and social networks
  • basic living skills (eg; budgeting, use of public transport)
  • practical assistance
  • improve household living conditions, creating routines and structures that work for you
  • resolve difficult situations
  • emotional support
  • emotional regulation
  • strengthen family bonds and assist in reducing family conflict
  • improve child safety and wellbeing
  • look at the needs of particular family members
  • help linking with and navigating specialist support services and relevant social, counselling, mental and health support services
  • build confidence and self esteem
Intensive Family Preservation

How it operates

The 6 month program consists of 2 stages each of 3 month duration:-

  1. The first 3 months of service comprises 1 – 2 appointments (home visits) a week, with a family caseworker available to clients on-call by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. The following 3 months is a step down period, with frequency of appointments determined in consultation with the Client and their family caseworker. Less visits as we progress past the first 3 months.
Intensive Family Preservation

Who is eligible for services?

  • At least one child (unborn to 17 years of age) who is the subject of a Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) report.
  • Reside in the Lake Macquarie local government area.
  • At least one carer is willing and available to work in the Intensive Family Preservation Program towards specified case goals.
  • Intensive case management support is needed to address family issues.
“Always good to have someone there to support you when you had nobody else”
“Yeah that was heaps helpful having someone to help with paperwork and appointments”
“The program was helpful in helping me understand, like looking after the kids and learning to do more activities with the kids”
“I trusted you more than I could trust my own family which meant a lot”
“Having the support there, having someone you could rely on”
“Play sessions with the kids”
“You gave us more information and more confidence as parents”
“If we didn’t know something you were helpful in giving us information, resources. If we needed stuff you would try and help us to get it. You were helpful all round”
“ It’s just so supportive having someone to talk with, where there are no off the cuff comments that are judgemental ”
“ Makes me feel like a better person when I get out with my kids along to the group and join with others ”
“ Feel I can talk to all the workers staff 100% ”
“ I have my bad days but the staff know what to say 100% ”
“ Helped me to build coping mechanisms ”
“ Felt very comfortable ”
Contact us

How to refer to us?

Referrals only permitted from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

Ph 02 4954 5277 or email IFPPTeam@thecanopy.org.au

(02) 4954 5277