What’s the “ Intense” in “ Intensive”?What’s the “ Intense” in “ Intensive”?
The experience of Barnardos Australia
in establishing
Redfern/Waterloo Intensive Family Support Service
Presentation by Kathleen Clark and Deirdre CheersPresentation by Kathleen Clark and Deirdre Cheers
Intensive Family Services - Fifth National Practice Symposium - Bondi Beach - 2004Intensive Family Services - Fifth National Practice Symposium - Bondi Beach - 2004
FAMILY SUPPORT & BARNARDOSFAMILY SUPPORT & BARNARDOS
bAuburn 1974bAuburn 1974
bPenrith 1988bPenrith 1988
bA C T 1998bA C T 1998
bSouth Coast 1999bSouth Coast 1999
bOrana Far West 2002bOrana Far West 2002
bTasmania 2003bTasmania 2003
bRedfern/Waterloo2003bRedfern/Waterloo2003
FAMILY SUPPORTFAMILY SUPPORT
b1974 - Homebuilders’ Program (US)b1974 - Homebuilders’ Program (US)
b1980’s - Growth and expansion of Barnardos’ FamilySupport and Temporary Family Care (TFC) programsb1980’s - Growth and expansion of Barnardos’ FamilySupport and Temporary Family Care (TFC) programs
b1990 - Community Services Victoria (CSV, now DHS)establishes Families First Reference Groupb1990 - Community Services Victoria (CSV, now DHS)establishes Families First Reference Group
b1992 - Intensive Family Based Services InnovationsConference, Sydney NSWb1992 - Intensive Family Based Services InnovationsConference, Sydney NSW
“CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Based on original US Homebuilders Model“CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Based on original US Homebuilders Model
bWorkers have social work or equivalentqualificationsbWorkers have social work or equivalentqualifications
bLow caseloads (2 families per EFT worker)bLow caseloads (2 families per EFT worker)
bFamilies have access to 24 hour supportbFamilies have access to 24 hour support
bHigh supervisor : worker ratio(typically 1 : 2)bHigh supervisor : worker ratio(typically 1 : 2)
bReferral criteria “imminent risk of placement inout-of-home care”bReferral criteria “imminent risk of placement inout-of-home care”
bOnly statutory referralsbOnly statutory referrals
bTime limited duration of support available tofamilies (4 - 12 weeks)bTime limited duration of support available tofamilies (4 - 12 weeks)
bHigh level commitment to staff training andprogram evaluationbHigh level commitment to staff training andprogram evaluation
“CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Cont’d
ANCILLARY FEATURESANCILLARY FEATURES
bImmediate intervention - families visitedwithin 24 hours of referral - no waiting listsbImmediate intervention - families visitedwithin 24 hours of referral - no waiting lists
bHome-based intervention - not office basedbHome-based intervention - not office based
bFamily focussed interventionbFamily focussed intervention
bCase planning goals developed withfamilies - not for thembCase planning goals developed withfamilies - not for them
bDirect provision of material and practicalassistancebDirect provision of material and practicalassistance
bUse of theory-based intervention“techniques” - RET, Systems TheorybUse of theory-based intervention“techniques” - RET, Systems Theory
“tools” - crisis cards, strengths cards, signal exercises “tools” - crisis cards, strengths cards, signal exercises
“tricks” - the teachable moment“tricks” - the teachable moment
ANCILLARY FEATURES Cont’dANCILLARY FEATURES Cont’d
LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED
b: Initial IFBS pilots Macarthur andFar North Coast (Report to Minister for CommunityServices from the IFBS Reference Group, January1996)bNSW Experience: Initial IFBS pilots Macarthur andFar North Coast (Report to Minister for CommunityServices from the IFBS Reference Group, January1996)
b: Initial Families First Pilot ImplementationEvaluation 1993; Evaluation of StrengtheningFamilies Initiative February 2001bVictoria: Initial Families First Pilot ImplementationEvaluation 1993; Evaluation of StrengtheningFamilies Initiative February 2001
bbUS Homebuilders: Ainsworth, F. “FamilyPresentation Services: A Cautionary Note”, CHILDRENAUSTRALIA, Vol 18, No 2, 1993
bbimprecise definitions of “imminent out-of-home care placement”
bbtime frames
bbopportunities for change (crisis theory)
bbability to provide individually tailoredresponses to families
bbimportance of follow up in order to maximiseshort term gains
bbkey importance of brokerage $$$
LESSONS LEARNED Cont’dLESSONS LEARNED Cont’d
REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS -MODELLING A NEW SERVICEREDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS -MODELLING A NEW SERVICE
bOne part of a whole of governmentinitiative, the Redfern/WaterlooPartnership Project (RWPP)bOne part of a whole of governmentinitiative, the Redfern/WaterlooPartnership Project (RWPP)
bBroader social agenda - not just IFSSbBroader social agenda - not just IFSS
bNature of Redfern/Waterloo (culturaldiversity, number of agencies)bNature of Redfern/Waterloo (culturaldiversity, number of agencies)
REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS 2003REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS 2003
A service delivery model targetingvulnerable families via assertive outreach,intensive home visiting support,community outreach and interagencylinks/partnerships combined with flexibleuse of brokerage funds. A service delivery model targetingvulnerable families via assertive outreach,intensive home visiting support,community outreach and interagencylinks/partnerships combined with flexibleuse of brokerage funds.
STAFF RECRUITMENT ISSUESSTAFF RECRUITMENT ISSUES
bProgram Manager leadershipbProgram Manager leadership
bImportance of diversity in professionaland cultural backgrounds of staffbImportance of diversity in professionaland cultural backgrounds of staff
DEFINING ROLES -External FactorsDEFINING ROLES -External Factors
bPolitical agendabPolitical agenda
bPeriod of fundingbPeriod of funding
bProject briefbProject brief
bMany services in areabMany services in area
bHistorical/cultural factorsbHistorical/cultural factors
DEFINING ROLES -Internal FactorsDEFINING ROLES -Internal Factors
bProject BriefbProject Brief
bCultural AwarenessbCultural Awareness
bDiversity of Professional BackgroundsbDiversity of Professional Backgrounds
TENSIONS AND PRESSURESTENSIONS AND PRESSURES
bWhose agenda?bWhose agenda?
bWhat does Intensive Family Support mean?bWhat does Intensive Family Support mean?
b“Competing” with other agenciesb“Competing” with other agencies
bDeveloping partnershipsbDeveloping partnerships
bRumours and innuendobRumours and innuendo
TENSIONS AND PRESSURES Cont’dTENSIONS AND PRESSURES Cont’d
bConflicting aspects of IFSS briefbConflicting aspects of IFSS brief
bBroad project goalsbBroad project goals
bTwo year timeframebTwo year timeframe
bStaff retentionbStaff retention
WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO ITWHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT
bIntakebIntake
bCase Management (SCARF)bCase Management (SCARF)
bAssertive OutreachbAssertive Outreach
bBrokeragebBrokerage
bInteragency Meetings /Developing PartnershipsbInteragency Meetings /Developing Partnerships
WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEANFOR FAMILIES?WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEANFOR FAMILIES?
bIntensive home visitingbIntensive home visiting
bPractical in home supportbPractical in home support
bParent educationbParent education
bRelationship supportbRelationship support
bSubstance abuse issue managementbSubstance abuse issue management
bLife skills educationbLife skills education
bCounsellingbCounselling
bSupport for mental health issuesbSupport for mental health issues
bRespite carebRespite care
WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEAN FORWORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES?
bbCalling and convening meetings for case planning/review
bbAlways having families at meetings:sometimes a challenge!
bbMaking sure agency roles and responsibilities are clear
bbAgreeing on timeframes and desired outcomes forinterventions
bbInteragency meetings and joint planning
STATISTICSSTATISTICS
b 39 current familiesb 39 current families
b 89 families assisted since July 2003b 89 families assisted since July 2003
b 7 unallocated referralsb 7 unallocated referrals
b 205 children and their families attendedKids Speak since July 2003b 205 children and their families attendedKids Speak since July 2003
b 50/50 client cultural splitb 50/50 client cultural split
b multiple referral sourcesb multiple referral sources
EVALUATIONEVALUATION
bPremier’s DepartmentbPremier’s Department
bUniversity of NSWbUniversity of NSW
bHuman Services ReviewbHuman Services Review