State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has used Parliament this week to call for funding for the Intensive Family Preservation Program to be continued.
A number of local service providers have contacted Ms Hornery, fearing that funding for the program will not be continued after 31 December.
The Intensive Family Preservation program is based on the understanding that it is in the child’s best interests to remain in the care of their family, wherever this is a safe option. The focus of the program is to improve children’s safety, placement permanency and wellbeing. The program targets families with children aged from birth to 18 years and aims to keep children and young people safe at home and stop them escalating into the out of home care system.
Ms Hornery has moved a Notice of Motion and asked a number of Questions on Notice to the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services asking that funding for the vital program be continued after 31 December.
“The impacts of COVID-19 have caused unprecedented disruption to the not-for-profit sector as well as a significant increase in demand for services,” Ms Hornery said.
“Local service providers are in a precarious position with funding for intensive support programs due to expire on 31 December.
“This successful program aims to keep children and young people safe at home and stop them escalating into the out of home care system.
“With the significant overrepresentation of Aboriginal children and young people generally in the child protection system and statutory out of home care, the current situation is of substantial concern.
“In Lake Macquarie there is only one service provider that covers the entire Local Government Area and the loss of the service would result in a significant gap in the family services system for at risk families.
“Any delays in funding this program will result in increased numbers of children and young people entering the out of home care system and increased pressures on other service providers and non-government organisations to deal with the crisis.
“I will be asking the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services to ensure continued funding for this important and vital program,” said Ms Hornery.