Intensive Family Support
Intensive Family Support (IFS) services combine a lead case management model with a collaborative coaching approach to assist vulnerable families to build their capacity to safely care for and protect their children.
The purpose of IFS is to build practical skills, resilience and independence in families where referred concerns include parenting challenges, substance use, domestic and family violence (DFV), significant trauma history, or factors relating to disability or mental health. The IFS program takes a child-centred and family-focused approach to working with families, predominantly within their home environment.
How we help
- Parenting support and strategies to build positive family relationships
- Addressing issues that impact parenting and family wellbeing such as domestic violence, mental health, and substance abuse
- Developing stronger life skills such as setting routines, budgeting, and managing the household
- Managing stress to cope with daily pressures
- Providing culturally safe and inclusive support
- Linking into services that support your child’s development
- Connecting you with local services, playgroups, and other social networks
- Providing child health and wellbeing resources
- Deliver protective behaviour programs to children
Referrals
IFS services accept eligible referrals from the Family and Child Connect, child safety services, health services, schools, community agencies, and self-referrals from families.
This service is available to families in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Fraser Coast and North Burnett, Brisbane North, Toowoomba, Roma and the Gold Coast.
If you are a service provider interested in referring a family you can find our referral form at: https://familysupportreferral.org.au/
Alternatively, contact your local Act for Kids office to discuss referral suitability.
Changing the lives of kids in Australia
Five-year-old Maddie was physically, emotionally and verbally abused by her parents from birth, witnessing severe domestic violence and substance abuse, including Ice.
For the first six years of his little life, eight-year-old Aiden was beaten, burned, threatened, and degraded.