Family Support Services
Intensive Family Support (IFS)
Together, we'll find a way to improve the wellbeing of your children and family.
Overview
Intensive Family Support is a free and confidential service that works with families and children (unborn to 18 years of age) to mitigate risks and family challenges, and prevent the need for child protection involvement.
Our practitioners will work with you to increase safety within your family and home, restore family function, increase current and future wellbeing, and reduce the likelihood of entering or re-entering the statutory child protection system.
Who is this service for?
Intensive Family Support is for families and children (unborn to 18 years of age) who are experiencing complex familial challenges and are at risk of entering / re-entering the statutory child protection service.
At my lowest points she has been compassionate, shown great empathy and helped me keep going one day at a time.
Just want to express my gratitude for our caseworker. This year she has been an amazing support for myself and my children during some difficult times.
Her visits and check-ins have at times helped me get through days I didn’t think I could, and at my lowest points she has been compassionate, shown great empathy and helped me keep going one day at a time.
Her non-judgemental approach has allowed me to accept help and trust her, which is not something I do easily. I just wanted your service to know what an absolute asset she is to you and how grateful I am that your service exists.
V, 42
,
IFS client
How can I access IFS?
You must have a referral from www.familysupportreferral.org.au to access IFS. This referral can either be a self-referral or can come from the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services, Queensland Health, Department of Education, or a non-government organisation.
The Benefits of IFS
- Help in preventing children from experiencing abuse or neglect.
- Access to health and welfare services, including doctors, counsellors, drug and alcohol services, sexual health services, and child health specialists.
- Increased safety for you and your family within the home.
- Improved relationships within your family and increased connection.
- Development of coping skills for dealing with difficult family issues or crisis.
- Improved parenting skills, self-esteem, and confidence for parents and caregivers.
- Support with better management of household responsibilities and tasks, including budgeting.
- Involvement of all household members to increase general wellbeing.
What do I need to know about Intensive Family Support?
IFS is a voluntary support program, which means, even if you have been referred, you only have to participate if you want to.
It is an in-home service, where a practitioner will meet with you and your family once a week to help you achieve your case plan goals, address referral concerns, increase your family’s safety, and maintain a child centred approach.
IFS is a prevention service; we are not a not a crisis service. Our practitioners operate during set working hours and work with you before escalation to prevent child protection from stepping in.
