1. 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 Cheers Intensive Family Services - Fifth National Practice Symposium - Bondi Beach - 2004

2. FAMILY SUPPORT & BARNARDOS b Auburn 1974 b Penrith 1988 b A C T 1998 b South Coast 1999 b Orana Far West 2002 b Tasmania 2003 b Redfern/Waterloo2003

3. FAMILY SUPPORT b 1974 - Homebuilders’ Program (US) b 1980’s - Growth and expansion of Barnardos’ Family Support and Temporary Family Care (TFC) programs b 1990 - Community Services Victoria (CSV, now DHS) establishes Families First Reference Group b 1992 - Intensive Family Based Services Innovations Conference, Sydney NSW

4. “CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Based on original US Homebuilders Model b Workers have social work or equivalent qualifications b Low caseloads (2 families per EFT worker) b Families have access to 24 hour support b High supervisor : worker ratio (typically 1 : 2)

5. b Referral criteria “imminent risk of placement in out-of-home care” b Only statutory referrals b Time limited duration of support available to families (4 - 12 weeks) b High level commitment to staff training and program evaluation “CLASSIC” IFBS FEATURES Cont’d

6. ANCILLARY FEATURES b Immediate intervention - families visited within 24 hours of referral - no waiting lists b Home-based intervention - not office based b Family focussed intervention b Case planning goals developed with families - not for them

7. b Direct provision of material and practical assistance b Use 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 ANCILLARY FEATURES Cont’d

8. LESSONS LEARNED b : Initial IFBS pilots Macarthur and Far North Coast (Report to Minister for Community Services from the IFBS Reference Group, January 1996) b NSW Experience: Initial IFBS pilots Macarthur and Far North Coast (Report to Minister for Community Services from the IFBS Reference Group, January 1996) b : Initial Families First Pilot Implementation Evaluation 1993; Evaluation of Strengthening Families Initiative February 2001 b Victoria: Initial Families First Pilot Implementation Evaluation 1993; Evaluation of Strengthening Families Initiative February 2001 b b US Homebuilders: Ainsworth, F. “Family Presentation Services: A Cautionary Note”, CHILDREN AUSTRALIA, Vol 18, No 2, 1993

9. b b imprecise definitions of “imminent out-of- home care placement” b b time frames b b opportunities for change (crisis theory) b b ability to provide individually tailored responses to families b b importance of follow up in order to maximise short term gains b b key importance of brokerage $$$ LESSONS LEARNED Cont’d

10. REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS - MODELLING A NEW SERVICE b One part of a whole of government initiative, the Redfern/Waterloo Partnership Project (RWPP) b Broader social agenda - not just IFSS b Nature of Redfern/Waterloo (cultural diversity, number of agencies)

11. REDFERN/WATERLOO IFSS 2003 A service delivery model targeting vulnerable families via assertive outreach, intensive home visiting support, community outreach and interagency links/partnerships combined with flexible use of brokerage funds. A service delivery model targeting vulnerable families via assertive outreach, intensive home visiting support, community outreach and interagency links/partnerships combined with flexible use of brokerage funds.

12. STAFF RECRUITMENT ISSUES b Program Manager leadership b Importance of diversity in professional and cultural backgrounds of staff

13. DEFINING ROLES - External Factors b Political agenda b Period of funding b Project brief b Many services in area b Historical/cultural factors

14. DEFINING ROLES - Internal Factors b Project Brief b Cultural Awareness b Diversity of Professional Backgrounds

15. TENSIONS AND PRESSURES b Whose agenda? b What does Intensive Family Support mean? b “Competing” with other agencies b Developing partnerships b Rumours and innuendo

16. TENSIONS AND PRESSURES Cont’d b Conflicting aspects of IFSS brief b Broad project goals b Two year timeframe b Staff retention

17. WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT b Intake b Case Management (SCARF) b Assertive Outreach b Brokerage b Interagency Meetings / Developing Partnerships

18. WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEAN FOR FAMILIES? b Intensive home visiting b Practical in home support b Parent education b Relationship support b Substance abuse issue management b Life skills education b Counselling b Support for mental health issues b Respite care

19. WHAT DOES CASE MANAGEMENT MEAN FOR WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES? b b Calling and convening meetings for case planning/review b b Always having families at meetings: sometimes a challenge! b b Making sure agency roles and responsibilities are clear b b Agreeing on timeframes and desired outcomes for interventions b b Interagency meetings and joint planning

20. STATISTICS b 39 current families b 89 families assisted since July 2003 b 7 unallocated referrals b 205 children and their families attended Kids Speak since July 2003 b 50/50 client cultural split b multiple referral sources

21. EVALUATION b Premier’s Department b University of NSW b Human Services Review