Family Support Programs

CAFS offers a range of support programs to individuals, couples, children and families. Three of these programs funded through the Commonwealth Government’s Family Support Program include Post Separation Cooperative Parenting Program (PSCPP), Children’s Contact Service and the Men & Family Relationships Service.

All three programs work closely together and with a range of other programs at CAFS and in the community sector , to ensure the needs of families are met.

Post Separation Cooperative Parenting Program (PSCPP)

Encourages separating and separated parents to redirect their energies towards the “best interests” of their children. The program includes:

Intake & Assessment
Information
Education group work program (2 sessions)
Brief individual counseling (as required)
Program follow up

Children’s Contact Service

Offers a safe and supervised environment for children to have contact with a parent they no longer live with. The time limited service includes:

Intake and Assessment including case planning and timelines.
Supervised contacts
Supervised Change over
Support to move to self management (as appropriate)

The Men and Family Relationships Service

The service aims to improve family functioning, safety and child wellbeing through counseling, group work and community programs. While the program has a focus on engaging and working with men, many of the programs include all family members.

Some of the issues addressed include:

Separation
Parenting and step-parenting
Depression
Family Violence

Men & Family Relationships service is available at Ballarat, Hepburn and Moorabool offices. Please visit contact the relevant team leader for more information.

Our Vision: Wellbeing, respect and safety for all children and families

Our Mission: Our mission is to strengthen and empower individuals, families and communities in order to heal from the oppression of disadvantage, alienation from culture and social connections and the trauma of abuse and violence

185

employees working at CAFS
to help strengthen and
empower individuals, families
and communities

2,386

phone calls received
for family support
for the year ended
30 June 2011

$3.75m

in client debts written off
by creditors such as banks
and utilities
with CAFS help

CAFS Values

Flexibility: Being adaptable to changing circumstances in the workplace, prioritising work, addressing what is most important and taking advantage of new and emerging opportunities.

Resilience: The capacity to recover from setbacks, overcome obstacles and impediments, and the ability to learn from experience and identify areas for self development.

Client/Member focused: Prioritising the needs of clients and members, aiming for best outcomes for clients and members, being focused on the outcome and following through with commitments.

Inclusive: Recognising the rights of others, being committed to social justice and social inclusion, making equitable decisions and respecting and valuing difference and diversity in all its forms.

Ethical: High standards of personal integrity, being truthful and reflecting expected standards of behaviour consistent with the CAFS Code of Conduct and professional Codes of Ethics.

Collaborative: Working with others to achieve common goals, engendering a spirit of teamwork, listening actively, inspiring confidence and demonstrating empathy when confronted with adversity.