Intensive Family Based Services (IFBS)
Following the recommendations made by Justice James Wood in the 2008 Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection in NSW, the NSW Government committed to implement Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing. Under Keep Them Safe, the Aboriginal Intensive Family Based Services (IFBS) was developed as the highest level of intervention within a continuum of early intervention and placement prevention services designed to work with children and their families to improve family functioning and to reduce entries into out-of-home care.
The IFBS offers an intensive level of casework and a broad spectrum of support services to families in crisis, for a period of up to 12 months. The service is targeted at children who are at imminent risk of removal from their families, but where an assessment is made that there is a reasonable prospect of improvement within the family with the right support. Families can only be referred by Family & Community Services (FaCS), or through a Court order.
We believe the service represents a vital part to the approach to safeguarding the wellbeing of children, by allowing eligible families every opportunity to address their needs before placement of their child in out-of- home-care becomes necessary.
The model also includes a step-down service, providing less intensive case management support for up to six months following the intensive crisis service.
There are four IFBS NGO-based services established in high-need areas across NSW:
- Kempsey—Burrun Dalai Intensive Family Based Service
- Wyong—Bungree Intensive Family Based Service
- Wagga Wagga—Ngangaagi Intensive Family Based Service
- Grafton—Clarence Valley Intensive Family Based Service
If you would like more information about Intensive Family Based Services, please contact AbSec.
