Families First

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Families First

The program provides intensive support to children referred by Child Protection where it has been assessed that the child is at risk of requiring a placement in out of home care and the family requires immediate intervention to reduce this risk. The program also accepts referrals to support children returning to parental care.

The Families First program is designed to offer families in crisis the opportunity to engage with an intensive, child focussed, family centred flexible service that adopts family preservation principles. The program is committed to working with the child's best interest, client self determination, a strengths based model and with the value of collaboration and partnerships in mind.

Families First work with children and families includes identifying strengths and difficulties, providing practical assistance, counselling support and setting goals to achieve change so that the child or children can remain safely with their family.

The program operates across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula and only accepts referrals from Child Protection.

The OzChild Family First program is located at our Frankston office.

In 2011 OzChild celebrates 160 years of caring for children! OzChild is Australia's oldest independent, not-for-profit, children's charity, with a history of caring for children which dates back to 1851. We continue to care for children, support families and strengthen the potential and life opportunities of children and young people.

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Simone

When my family decided to go into the foster care program, we were full of anticipation and curiosity. We knew that it would be rewarding, but we under-estimated just how rewarding it could be. The experiences I have had over the several years of fostering have been funny, educating, challenging and emotional.