To ensure the best possible outcomes for children and families, the Child and Family Support System (CFSS) collects evidence and structured data throughout our time supporting families, which is analysed to better understand the needs of the children and families we work with. Through this we are able to monitor progress and effectiveness of the programs within the system, as well as build the capacity of our system’s workforce.
We are building research evidence to inform a stronger system — one that is proactive, preventative and improves outcomes for children and families experiencing complex problems and disadvantage.
The more we understand about the children and families in South Australia needing support and what services we provide to them; we can have a better understanding of:
- how we can provide the best support for families, and keep children and young people safe and well, in their families, communities and culture
- what works for whom, and why, and what impact the CFSS is having on outcomes for children and families
- how the CFSS interacts with other service systems and how together we can create a stronger, more integrated family support system.
More about our research
Child and Family Support System Research Approach
A learning approach for the Child and Family Support System
Reports
The CFSS regularly prepares or contributes to the development of reports or evaluations.
How to Embed Learning Systems in Social Services: A Case Study of South Australia's Child and Family Support System
A report from the Centre for Policy Development, developed in partnership with The Front Project. It offers practical lessons for policymakers and public servants on how to embed continuous learning into the design and delivery of social services, drawing on the success of the CFSS.
Based on interviews with staff from DHS, service providers and lived experience advisers, the report sets out six practical recommendations that governments across Australia can apply to their own service systems. Implementing these recommendations would enable governments to improve service design and delivery so services work earlier, work better and work for the people they are meant to support, without increasing long-term costs.
How to Embed Learning Systems in Social Services (Centre for Policy Development)
DHS Intensive Family Service: Quasi-experimental evaluation
A report prepared by the BetterStart Group at Adelaide University, assessing the impact of the Intensive Family Services (IFS) on family preservation over a 24-month period. The key finding is that there was a beneficial effect of IFS on preservation (children not entering out-of-home care) within 24 months. 93.2% of children in IFS did not enter out-of-home-care within 24 months compared to 90.5% of children in the comparison group.
DHS Intensive Family Service: Quasi-experimental evaluation (PDF 940 KB)