Leaving Care & Connect Mentoring Program

CAFS Leaving Care program focuses on empowering young people by developing their independent living skills.

Leaving Care has undergone a restructuring period over the last financial year. CAFS has acquired CSO autonomy over the program for the Grampians region. Effectively, CAFS is now the central intake point for supporting Out of Home Care children between the ages of 16-21 who are transitioning into independence.

Leaving Care initiates strategies to best help young people have smooth transitions to independent living in the wider community.

CONNECT Mentoring program

Do you have passion for supporting young people?

The Connect Mentoring Program assists

Young people in care that are 16 years and above

The aim of the Connect Mentoring Program

To build a sustainable friendship for young people with a matched mentor
To provide social interaction and community engagement
Mentoring may include practical based tasks such as learning to drive
Mentors are provided with training and ongoing supervision

Click here to download an information pack. Following forms can be downloaded to begin with your application:application form, consent to release and obtain information and a life history overview.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact Georgie Frawley or Tim Bowler on 5337 3333 or via email connect@cafs.org.au

You can also register your interest via the online form at cafs.org.au/volunteer-at-cafs

Click here to see the latest print advertisement

E-Mentoring (Online Mentoring)

Along with “real life” mentors additional support for young people in care is provided online
This website contains updated information about local community youth events and services
An Interactive online forum is available for young people to gain peer support

E-mentoring will be available shortly.

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.