Brighter Futures is an initiative funded by Community Services to provide targeted support to vulnerable children and families to improve family functionality and minimise risk of vulnerabilities escalating. CareSouth is lead agency for the Illawarra and works with nine local area agency partners to provide case management support to over 85 families. Participation is voluntary and families are able to withdraw from the service at any time.
Together we are working towards:
- Healthy development in children
- Strong, functional and well supported families
- Reduced child abuse and neglect in participating families
The program recognises that parents already have skills and expertise when it comes to understanding their families and provides support to build on this strength and increase resilience. Parents are encouraged to participate in all decisions about services provided to them.
CareSouth’s Brighter Futures incorporates home visiting, parenting programs, individualised parent skill development and accessing quality children’s services through our partner agencies. Further support will be provided as parents transition out of the program and children enter school. Our model is flexible and innovative, with capacity to meet the individual needs of diverse families through a suite of services offered by CareSouth Brighter Futures staff and our partner agencies.
The program is targeted at families who are expecting a child or have children up to eight years of age and are experiencing at least one vulnerability:
Domestic violence
Parental drug and alcohol misuse
Parental mental health issues
A lack of extended family or social supports
Parents with significant learning difficulties and/or intellectual disability;
Child behavior management problems (eg: parent / child conflict, school problems, parenting difficulties); and/or
Lack of parenting skills/inadequate supervision
State-wide Brighter Futures Program Overview, available from the Community Services website by clicking here.
Click here for details on our Brighter Futures Service Model for the Illawarra.
I’ve been referred to this service
Brighter Futures recognizes that as a parent you already have skills and expertise when it comes to understanding what works for your family. We are able to provide you with some support to help you overcome any difficulties that you are experiencing. Brighter Futures can help you with a lot of different things including home visiting, parent groups, child care and playgroups access to other services like drug and alcohol counseling, financial management, employment services and many others.
Can I receive this service?
If you think you need support, don’t be embarrassed you can call CareSouth Brighter Futures and talk about what sort of support you may need. Brighter Futures recognises that as a parent you already have skills and expertise when it comes to understanding what works for your family and that as a parent you sometimes need some extra support.
