The Andrews Labor Government is trialling a new early intervention program in Melbourne’s Bayside Peninsula to prevent the removal of children and young people from their homes.
Anglicare Victoria is offering the Rapid Response Placement Prevention Model and has already provided intensive support to 16 families since the program began.
The Government and Anglicare Victoria will each provide $516,000 to test the evidence-based model for a year to address safety and instability in families.
Anglicare’s rapid response team will work with 60 families over the next 12 months, with intensive four to six week interventions.
The model includes up to 15 hours per week of in-home and outreach intervention, as well as a 24-hour emergency response service to support families when they need it most.
The model is based on a United States program called Homebuilders and has already been successfully trialled by Anglicare in the Bendigo region – proving highly effective in reducing out-of-home care placements.
Anglicare Victoria staff will offer specially tailored services including parent coaching, access to resources, long-term planning and professional consultation.
The model is one of nine programs being trialled in Victoria’s south under the Government’s $168 million Roadmap for Reform, which was introduced to shift child protection from crisis response to prevention and early intervention.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“This evidence-based model is improving the lives of children and young people at risk of entering out-of-home care.”
“Early intervention is the best prevention, and this program is creating a safe, healthy and positive environment for all children so that where possible they can remain with their families.”
Quotes attributable to Anglicare Victoria Regional Director Southern Region Andrea Dwyer
“Anglicare Victoria is excited to trial this model in Bayside Peninsula, building on the success of our Bendigo program, which saw placements prevented for 92 percent of families after four weeks.”
“Through the immediate response of skilled workers providing intensive support, Rapid Response gives a child every opportunity to remain living safely with their family and prevent their entry into out-of-home care.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020