What’s the “ Intense” in “ What’s the “ Intense” in “ Intensive”?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 - Intensive Family Services - Fifth National Practice Symposium - Bondi Beach - 20042004

FAMILY SUPPORT & FAMILY SUPPORT & BARNARDOSBARNARDOS

AuburnAuburn 19741974 PenrithPenrith 19881988 A C TA C T 19981998 South CoastSouth Coast 19991999 Orana Far West Orana Far West 20022002 TasmaniaTasmania 20032003 Redfern/WaterlooRedfern/Waterloo 20032003

FAMILY SUPPORTFAMILY SUPPORT

1974 - Homebuilders’ Program (US)1974 - Homebuilders’ Program (US) 1980’s - Growth and expansion of Barnardos’ 1980’s - Growth and expansion of Barnardos’

Family Support and Temporary Family Care Family Support and Temporary Family Care (TFC) programs(TFC) programs

1990 - Community Services Victoria (CSV, now 1990 - Community Services Victoria (CSV, now DHS) establishes Families First Reference DHS) establishes Families First Reference GroupGroup

1992 - Intensive Family Based Services 1992 - Intensive Family Based Services InnovationsInnovations Conference, Sydney NSW Conference, Sydney NSW

““CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURESCLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Based on original US Homebuilders Based on original US Homebuilders ModelModel

Workers have social work or equivalent Workers have social work or equivalent qualificationsqualifications

Low caseloads (2 families per EFT Low caseloads (2 families per EFT worker)worker)

Families have access to 24 hour supportFamilies have access to 24 hour support High supervisor : worker ratio High supervisor : worker ratio

(typically 1 : 2) (typically 1 : 2)

Referral criteria “imminent risk of Referral criteria “imminent risk of placement in out-of-home care”placement in out-of-home care”

Only statutory referralsOnly statutory referrals Time limited duration of support Time limited duration of support

available to families (4 - 12 weeks)available to families (4 - 12 weeks) High level commitment to staff training High level commitment to staff training

and program evaluationand program evaluation

“CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Cont’d

ANCILLARY FEATURESANCILLARY FEATURES

Immediate intervention - families Immediate intervention - families visited within 24 hours of referral - visited within 24 hours of referral - no waiting listsno waiting lists

Home-based intervention - not Home-based intervention - not office basedoffice based

Family focussed interventionFamily focussed intervention Case planning goals developed Case planning goals developed withwith

families - not families - not forfor them them

Direct provision of material and Direct provision of material and practical assistancepractical assistance

Use of theory-based intervention Use of theory-based intervention “techniques” - RET, Systems “techniques” - RET, Systems

TheoryTheory

““tools” - crisis cards, strengths tools” - crisis cards, strengths cards, cards, signal exercises signal exercises

““tricks” - the teachable momenttricks” - the teachable moment

ANCILLARY FEATURES ANCILLARY FEATURES Cont’dCont’d

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

NSW Experience: Initial IFBS pilots : Initial IFBS pilots Macarthur and Far North Coast (Report to Macarthur and Far North Coast (Report to Minister for Community Services from the IFBS Minister for Community Services from the IFBS Reference Group, January 1996)Reference Group, January 1996)

Victoria: Initial Families First Pilot : Initial Families First Pilot Implementation Evaluation 1993; Evaluation Implementation Evaluation 1993; Evaluation of Strengthening Families Initiative February of Strengthening Families Initiative February 20012001

US Homebuilders: Ainsworth, F. “Family Presentation Services: A Cautionary Note”, CHILDREN AUSTRALIA, Vol 18, No 2, 1993

imprecise definitions of “imminent out-of-home care placement”

time frames opportunities for change (crisis theory) ability to provide individually tailored

responses to families importance of follow up in order to

maximise short term gains key importance of brokerage $$$

LESSONS LEARNED LESSONS LEARNED Cont’dCont’d

REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS --MODELLING A NEW SERVICEMODELLING A NEW SERVICE

One part of a whole of government One part of a whole of government initiative, the Redfern/Waterloo initiative, the Redfern/Waterloo Partnership Project (RWPP)Partnership Project (RWPP)

Broader social agenda - not just Broader social agenda - not just IFSSIFSS

Nature of Redfern/Waterloo Nature of Redfern/Waterloo (cultural diversity, number of (cultural diversity, number of agencies)agencies)

REDFERN/WATERLOO REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS 2003IFSS 2003

A service delivery model A service delivery model targeting vulnerable families via targeting vulnerable families via assertive outreach, intensive assertive outreach, intensive home visiting support, community home visiting support, community outreach and interagency outreach and interagency links/partnerships combined with links/partnerships combined with flexible use of brokerage funds. flexible use of brokerage funds.

STAFF RECRUITMENT STAFF RECRUITMENT ISSUESISSUES

Program Manager leadershipProgram Manager leadership

Importance of diversity in Importance of diversity in professional and cultural professional and cultural backgrounds of staffbackgrounds of staff

DEFINING ROLES -DEFINING ROLES -External FactorsExternal Factors

Political agendaPolitical agenda

Period of funding Period of funding Project brief Project brief Many services in areaMany services in area Historical/cultural factors Historical/cultural factors

DEFINING ROLES -DEFINING ROLES -Internal FactorsInternal Factors

Project BriefProject Brief Cultural AwarenessCultural Awareness Diversity of Professional Diversity of Professional

BackgroundsBackgrounds

TENSIONS AND TENSIONS AND PRESSURESPRESSURES

Whose agenda?Whose agenda? What does Intensive Family Support What does Intensive Family Support

mean?mean? ““Competing” with other agenciesCompeting” with other agencies Developing partnershipsDeveloping partnerships Rumours and innuendoRumours and innuendo

TENSIONS AND TENSIONS AND PRESSURES PRESSURES Cont’dCont’d

Conflicting aspects of IFSS briefConflicting aspects of IFSS brief Broad project goalsBroad project goals Two year timeframeTwo year timeframe Staff retentionStaff retention

WHAT WE DO AND HOW WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO ITWE DO IT

IntakeIntake Case Management (SCARF)Case Management (SCARF) Assertive OutreachAssertive Outreach BrokerageBrokerage Interagency Meetings / Interagency Meetings /

Developing Partnerships Developing Partnerships

WHAT DOES CASE WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEAN MANAGEMENT MEAN FOR FAMILIES?FOR FAMILIES?

Intensive home visitingIntensive home visiting Practical in home supportPractical in home support Parent educationParent education Relationship supportRelationship support Substance abuse issue managementSubstance abuse issue management Life skills educationLife skills education CounsellingCounselling Support for mental health issuesSupport for mental health issues Respite careRespite care

WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEAN FOR WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES?

Calling and convening meetings for case planning/review

Always having families at meetings: sometimes a challenge!

Making sure agency roles and responsibilities are clear

Agreeing on timeframes and desired outcomes for interventions

Interagency meetings and joint planning

STATISTICSSTATISTICS

39 current families 39 current families 89 families assisted since July 89 families assisted since July

20032003 7 unallocated referrals7 unallocated referrals 205 children and their families 205 children and their families

attended Kids Speak since July 2003attended Kids Speak since July 2003 50/50 client cultural split50/50 client cultural split multiple referral sourcesmultiple referral sources

EVALUATIONEVALUATION

Premier’s DepartmentPremier’s Department

University of NSW University of NSW

Human Services ReviewHuman Services Review