CASPA has built a home away from home for families in need, officially opening the doors to the mid-north coast region’s first Family Support House.
As a leading child welfare and care services provider, CASPA’s new facility in Coffs Harbour will help rebuild and restore families in a safe and stable environment, simulating a home-like environment where parents’ can nurture their skills and connection to their children.
With a pressing need for more Family Support Houses, CASPA's efforts are already making a substantial impact. Currently, 21 percent of young people in their care are engaged in active family restoration with at least one parent, a stark contrast to the NSW state average of just 6 percent.
After opening their first Family Support House, Alaia’s Place, in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, CASPA's rate of successful family restorations has tripled.
CASPA CEO Naarah Rodwell said restoring children to their families from out-of-home care delivers profoundly better outcomes.
“Statistics show that a child ageing out of out-of-home care has a 30 percent chance of becoming homeless within the first year post-care and faces significant challenges such as limited access to further education and unemployment,” she said.
“A major determinant of successful family restoration is consistent family contact in a home-like setting. However, due to a lack of appropriate locations, these vital visits often take place in public spaces such as parks, shopping centres, or cafes. This makes it difficult to create a home-like environment and hinders the development of parental skills and the connection between parents and children.
“The new Family Support House aims to bridge this gap, providing a safe, nurturing, and home-like environment for families to reconnect and strengthen their bonds, setting a foundation for lasting success in family restoration. Family contact throughout the restoration process is a major determining factor in a successful restoration.”
The Family Support House is an extension of the valuable family restoration program at CASPA - providing therapeutic accommodation for families working towards restoration and is the first of its kind in this region.
Families can utilise the space for one day, one week or longer, while they strengthen and showcase their parenting skills with the support of trained staff in a homelike, relaxed environment.
The facility also has a large family contact room that can accommodate bigger groups. CASPA’s family support workers are trained to support positive and therapeutic contact based on the Australian Childhood Foundation practices and trainings around developmental trauma.
Article released 14 June 2024
