Helping out families

Families going through hard times are getting a helping hand to manage their problems and stay safe together.

Helping Out Families was set up as a pilot program in South East Queensland last October, with Logan on Brisbane’s southside one of three focus areas.

Annette Dawson of Uniting Care Community says more than 400 Logan families have been referred to Uniting Care since then.

“Our first priority is to support families to deal with the many complexities of family life,” says Annette, who manages the Logan program.

“This approach is about assisting families with early interventions to prevent issues from escalating to the point where Child Safety Services is called to intervene.”

The Department of Communities funded program at Logan is built around the organisation’s Family Support Alliance. This alliance identifies a family’s needs and then links families with appropriate community services.

“These services range from health home visits to referral and advice about domestic and family violence, all of which enhance the opportunities for families to make a positive change to their situation,” says Annette.

“The initiative also delivers intensive family support services such as counselling, home management, support with budgeting and meal preparation.”

Annette says no two families are alike, with single fathers usually having different needs to those of single mums or grandparents raising young children.

“However all the families we work with say they want what is best for their children.”

The two other areas where the program is being piloted are the Gold Coast and the Beenleigh-Eagleby-Nerang area.

Talk to your local community organisation about the Helping Out Families program or phone 13 74 68.

Did you know?

Of the 6.3 million families in Australia in 2009-10, 84% (5.4 million) were couple families, 14% (879,000) were one parent families and 2% (98,000) were other families.

Single dad gets a helping hand

A single father was finding it hard to cope with the demands of raising two school-aged children alone and shared his concerns with a school guidance officer.

The school referred him to Uniting Community Care’s Family Support Alliance and a strategy was devised that would best support all family members.

Dad agreed to work in the best interests of the children and undertake a healthy relationships program.

Although reluctant at the start, he found the program helpful in that it addressed how daily stressors impact on the ability to parent in a positive manner.

Family life has improved for this father and his children.