If your family is experiencing challenges and some people are concerned about the safety of your children, your family may be referred to an Intensive Family Services program.
If you and/or your children are in immediate danger, call 000 (triple zero).
Intensive Family Services programs provide one-on-one support to your children and family to address current challenges occurring within the home that could impact on your children’s safety and wellbeing.
Challenges your family may be experiencing could include:
- Children’s health and development
- Difficulties at school, including refusing to go to school
- situations issues affecting the safety and wellbeing of children
- Cultural and kinship connection of children
- Domestic and family violence
- Mental health
- Disability
- Drug and alcohol use
- Housing and homelessness
- Financial stress
- Family relationships (including separation).
The aim of Intensive Family Services is to keep your children and family together at home and prevent your children being removed by the child protection system.
What to expect from an Intensive Family Services program
If you have been referred to an Intensive Family Services program, you will be allocated a worker from Safer Family Services or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation or a non-government organisation.
As part of the program, the worker will work with your children and family in your home to help address child safety concerns. The worker will support your family to develop goals and strategies to strengthen the safety, wellbeing and functioning of your family. The aim of the program is to keep your children safe at home, connected to family, community and culture.
We will work closely with your family to help make positive changes for your children’s safety and wellbeing. We will support your family to move out of (or away from) the child protection system. We will visit your family regularly in your home and will contact you via phone calls and text messages to keep in contact with your family in between our visits. We will work with you and your children to determine what your needs are.
We provide different kinds of support, depending on what your children and family needs. This may include:
- working with your family to develop goals to keep your children safe
- supporting your family to take the necessary steps to achieve these goals
- developing healthy parent–child relationships with your children
- connecting your family to access relevant services (this could include domestic violence support, drug and alcohol supports, or mental health counselling)
- helping your family to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- supporting your family to connect with your culture
- connecting your family with community groups and local children’s centres where you can meet other families in your area.
You and your children will be able to have a say about what happens for your family and the decisions being made. Our support does not have a set timeline. We will work with your family for as long as needed to make sure the right help is in place.
Find out more about what your family can expect by being part of the Safer Family Services program.
How to access a program
Referrals to Intensive Family Services programs can only be made by approved government agencies. If you are worried about the safety and wellbeing of your children, you can refer your family to a family support program.
More information
Parenting SA
For free parenting information and resources to support families to raise their children from birth to 18 years.
Adults Supporting Kids
For free information for anyone concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child, young person, or family.
Frequently asked questions
Questions that are often asked from families who are receiving an intensive family service from Safer Family Services.