Fostering Families initiative sites announced

A new child safety intervention service to help reduce the number of children entering out of home care will be trialled in Maryborough, Toowoomba and Brisbane South, Child Safety Minister Tracy Davis announced today.

The $4 million Fostering Families initiative will run for two years and will provide around 300 families with practical support to help keep children at home and out of state care.

“The Newman Government is committed to improving Queensland’s child protection system and we want to support families through early intervention to help families stay together whenever possible,” Ms Davis said.

“The Fostering Families initiative will provide intensive, in-home and out-of-hours family support services to vulnerable families where a notification has been made to the department, primarily because of neglect.

“Neglect is the primary issue in one third of child safety notifications, and may include children not eating regular meals or having their clothes washed, or they may have poor personal hygiene.

“The Fostering Families initiative will help address these types of neglect issues by focusing on developing practical skills in the family home and improving parenting skills.”

Ms Davis said Maryborough, Toowoomba and South Brisbane were chosen for the initiative, based on their high number of children entering out of home care and the need for additional intensive family support services.

“The ultimate goal of this trial is to reduce the number of children entering the child protection system and to keep families safely together when possible,” she said.

“We want to support families and ensure the safety of Queensland’s children and young people, and this new initiative will help strengthen Queensland’s frontline services.”

The trials will get underway by the end of the year as part of the Newman Government’s Six Month Action Plan.

[ENDS] 11 September 2012

Media Contact: Ms Davis’ office - Sarah Gullo 0417 172 480