The response is an innovative new way to support families to stay together or reunify them when children have been in care services.

It is prioritised for 3 groups of children and young people (and their families) who meet specific eligibility criteria, including pregnant women and their unborn children, children from birth to 5 years and children 10 to 15 years.

• Likely to experience greater challenges because the child or young person’s development has been affected by the experience of risk factors and/or cumulative harm and/or
• At risk of concerns escalating and becoming involved with child protection if problems are not addressed, and
• Likely to be characterised by:
• Multiple risk factors and long-term chronic needs, meaning that children are at high risk of developmental deficits,
• Children, young people and families at high risk of long-term involvement in specialist secondary services, such as alcohol and drugs, mental health, family violence and sexual assault and homelessness services,
• Cycles of disadvantage and poverty resulting in chronic neglect and cumulative harm,
• Single/definable risk factors that need an individualised, specialised response to ameliorate their circumstances, and/or
• Single/definable risk factors that may need specialised one-off, short-term or episodic assistance to prevent or minimise the escalation of risk.

• Young parents.
• Parents or children with a learning disability.
• Parents with a history of care.
• Families with multiple vulnerabilities such as social isolation, mental health, substance use and/or family violence.
• Families with multiple reports to Child Protection.

Each family connected into the response is supported by a lead practitioner. The response practitioner will work with families to seek to understand their unique experience and perspectives and will deliver support families through programs and strategies that have been proven to make a difference for children and families.

The support a family may receive may include:

• Working with a family regularly at home or in place where they feel comfortable to provide them with support and strategies to build their parenting skills and confidence
• Linking families to other services and community supports as needed
• Using flexible funding to help families meet their goals.