Family support and child protection framework

Family support framework

Family support framework

Family support services aim to help families nurture and safely care for their children.

Family and Child Connect (FaCC) services

Family and Child Connect is an entry point for information and support advice for families experiencing vulnerability. Anyone can contact Family and Child Connect for advice and information, including parents, grandparents, other family members and young people.

The role of Family and Child Connect is to assess the needs of a family and help that family link to local services that best meet their needs. Families, community members and professionals seeking assistance can all contact Family and Child Connect to discuss their concerns about a family and what supports are available.

Family and Child Connect may be able to help in a single session, or by taking more time getting to know the family's situation then connecting them to the right services that can help.

In some areas, family support services are provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations. Most family support services can offer families the choice of working with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander family support worker.

The department funds a suite of services to support families with various levels of need.

Intensive Family Support services (IFS)

Intensive Family Support services respond to families experiencing vulnerability with children and young people who are at risk of involvement in the statutory child protection system. Intensive Family Support is a consent based program providing case management for families who agree to engage with the service.

All individuals who identify as being family members of a referred child and consent to engage are eligible for a service. Case managers work collaboratively with families to identify and prioritise their presenting needs and address those needs by providing intensive support and facilitating engagement with specialist services as required.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services (FWS)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services make it easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in communities across Queensland to access culturally responsive support to improve their social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing, and build their capacity to safely care for and protect their children.

The services collaborate with a wide range of culturally appropriate universal, secondary and specialist services, placement services, and with each individual family, to plan and provide a tailored, holistic and coordinated response to their specific needs.

For any of these services, where it is identified that children or young people have are experiencing or at risk of significant harm, family support services will make a prompt and timely referral to the department’s Regional Intake Service.