Our Integrated Family Services Program works in partnership with parents and carers to provide safety, stability and development for their children and young people, which includes:

• support to strengthen relationships with children and others
• support with child and adolescent behaviours and parenting strategies
• building your family’s connections within your community
• referrals to other services that might be helpful
• other practical support, guidance and reassurance.

The response is a referral-only program that supports families with children at risk of being placed into care services, or with children who have recently entered out-of-home care.

Our team supports families to create and maintain a safe environment for children. We aim to assist families in crisis and help children stay at home and out of external care arrangements, if possible.

We provide one-on-one mentoring for parents to learn effective parenting skills. We connect parents with other services they need such as family violence counselling, mental health support, and drug and alcohol support.

Once families are connected to the program, we tailor rapid and intensive support to their needs. This includes regular contact and in-home visits.

Meli delivers the program in partnership with other specialist support agencies to families in the Barwon and South West areas. Our work with Aboriginal families is delivered in partnership with local Aboriginal organisations.