Families Together

What is Families Together?

Families Together is a family preservation program funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Our purpose is to work alongside families to strengthen children’s safety, wellbeing and development, and to help families make positive, lasting changes so children can remain safely at home with their family wherever possible. We focus on building the strengths already within a family, supporting parents and carers, and helping families work through challenges that may be affecting their children.

Our role is to provide tailored, practical and therapeutic support that responds to each family’s needs. We work in partnership with parents and carers, keep children’s needs at the center of our work, and support families to build their confidence, skills and connections with services and people who can help.

How can we help?

Every family is different, so support is based on what is happening to your family and what you would like help with. Our practitioners work alongside you to identify your strengths, talk through concerns and set goals that are important to you and your children.

Things we can support you with

·         Parenting and understanding your child’s needs

·         Children’s safety, wellbeing and daily routines

·         Family relationships and communication

·         Managing stress and difficult circumstances

·         Building a safe and stable home environment

·         Connecting with schools, health services and other supports

·         Strengthening family and community connections

What you can expect

·         Support for your family: Your practitioner will listen to your concerns and work with you to identify goals and practical ways forward.

·         A respectful approach: We aim to provide support that respects your family’s culture, background, values and experiences.

·         Support that fits your needs: The type of support will depend on your family’s circumstances and the goals you work on together.

·         Working together: You know your family best. We will build on your strengths and work with you to make changes that matter to your family.

·         Support with other services: Where appropriate, we can help you find and connect with services that may be useful for your family.

How we can support your family

Family and parenting support

Support to understand children’s needs and strengthen family relationships

Working with you to set goals and review progress

Helping you access services and community support

Practical strategies to help manage day-to-day challenges

How does it work?

Getting to know your family: We talk with you about your family, what is going well and where you would like to support.

Setting goals: Together, we identify what is most important and agree on goals for your family.

Working on goals: Your practitioner works alongside you and provides support based on your family’s needs.

Reviewing progress: We check in on what is working, make changes if needed and discuss ongoing support.

Who is the program for?

Families Together supports eligible families with children and young people aged 0–17 who may need extra support with children’s safety and wellbeing living in the Penrith and Blue Mountain area. If you would like to know whether the program may be suitable for your family, please contact Hope Connect to discuss referral options.

Want to know more?

If you have questions about Families Together or would like to discuss support for your family, please contact Hope Connect.