Supporting Vulnerable Families through Building Community Connections

Burnside South West Sydney

Brighter Futures Program

Brighter Futures is a voluntary, targeted program for families experiencing problems that impact on their ability to care for their children.

• Funded by FACS • Targets families with children 0-9 years • Families are experiencing the following vulnerabilities: mental health, drug and alcohol, domestic violence and lack parenting skills, families with parents with an intellectual disability • Brighter Futures South West Sydney covers the geographical regions of Macarthur, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee local government areas

How do Families access the Brighter Futures Program?

Families can be referred to Brighter Futures: • By a community based agency or professional such as a GP, health professional, welfare worker or childcare worker • By the NSW child protection Helpline • Families can also contact us to refer themselves

BRIGHTER FUTURES

Service Components

Childcare Case Management FAMILY Brokerage Home based Parenting Program

Connecting with our Congregations – Why is it important?

• Communities in which we work are large, diverse and have limited formal support service options for very vulnerable and isolated families • We need to understand the communities in which we work with families, to be able to best meet their needs

What are we doing?

Learning and Training Sharing with each other: knowledge, information, resources, our passion for social justice and compassion for people

Example of partnerships

• Teddy Bears Picnic

UnitingCare Burnside Macarthur Brighter Futures Community Support Teddy Bears Picnic Picton Uniting Church

What have been the Outcomes?

A case study:

Why is it Working?

What are we Learning?

• Focus on shared commonalities and values • Developing a common language to describe each other • Workers are increasing their skills, knowledge and understanding of the importance of community development within a child protection context

Any questions?

Thank you

Presented by: Louise Smeaton, Manager Brighter Futures and Early Childhood Programs Macarthur, UnitingCare Burnside Nicola Leng, Early Childhood Facilitator, Brighter Futures Macarthur, UnitingCare Burnside