Family preservation and restoration programs

The NSW Government has committed to providing 900 places per year for intensive family preservation and restoration services aimed at keeping families together. Half of these 900 places will be for Aboriginal children and their families.

The models, Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN®) and Functional Family Therapy through Child Welfare (FFT-CW®), have already been shown to be successful with families internationally. These models aim to:

• reduce entries into out-of-home care
• increase exits from out-of-home care
• respond to trauma and other underlying causes of child abuse and neglect.

Since 1 August 2017, new home and community-based support services have been delivered by healthcare professionals in priority locations across NSW. Vulnerable children and families referred to these services will receive counselling and support to develop positive life changes and build a safer home environment.

Case studies

Meet some families that have successfully completed FFT-CW®:

Case study: Family ties matter PDF, 211.59 KB

Case study: Making her own future PDF, 219.6 KB

Case study: Getting out of the pit PDF, 211.08 KB

The services are currently being delivered by non-government organisations in the following locations across NSW:

Functional Family Therapy through Child Welfare (FFT-CW®)

Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN®)

Models Factsheet

For more information, read the Family Preservation and Restoration Models Factsheet. PDF, 53.75 KB

Families referred to the new services

These services are designed with a family’s needs in mind. Team members visit families in their home or community to assist them to form new ways to respond to and resolve problems. They will spend time with families to understand their strengths and needs and create a safer family environment.

Read the FFT-CW® brochure for children and families PDF, 3123.74 KB.

Alternative languages:  (Arabic PDF, 431.01 KB | Chinese PDF, 359.88 KB | Vietnamese PDF, 335.16 KB)

Read the MST-CAN® brochure for children and families PDF, 3319.34 KB.

Alternative languages: (Arabic PDF, 429.12 KB | Chinese PDF, 428.77 KB | Vietnamese PDF, 342.25 KB)

What are these models?

Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN®) and Functional Family Therapy through Child Welfare (FFT-CW®) are intensive family preservation and restoration models that target causes of harm towards children. They have a proven record in addressing underlying trauma that causes drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness.

The treatments under these evidence-based models are informed by cognitive, behavioural and family systems theory and require qualified practitioners to deliver the services.

For more model information, visit the Models webpage.

What do these evidence-based models offer?

Implementation of evidence-based practice and new models of service delivery will provide a targeted response for:

• families with children at imminent risk of entering care
• families with children in care for whom restoration is identified as a case plan goal.
  They increase access to family preservation and restoration services, contributing to successful outcomes and move toward a suite of service models to meet wide and varied needs of vulnerable children, young people and families.

What are the benefits of these evidence-based models?

• The models target families who have the highest need (families for whom multiple referrals and service engagements have not achieved change)
• Interventions are provided in the home and in community settings, enabling qualified practitioners to assess and address underlying causes of harm in the family. This increases the likelihood of achieving sustained improvements in safety and family functioning.
• The model practice approach will be delivered with fidelity. Local evidence of the impact of the models is being gathered during implementation.
• The models have been rolled out in a range of NSW settings.

Find out more about the models and the places for Aboriginal families and agencies.