Empowering families with early intervention

SafeCare is an early intervention program that supports parents with children aged 0 – 5. It involves three separate modules; home safety, health and parent-child interaction. The aim is to provide parents with the additional teachings they need to be able to keep their family safe.

Your generous support has helped The Richard’s Family* to complete their first module. It has had an amazing impact on the whole family so far. The Richard’s - who includes Mum, Dad and three kids, were referred to SafeCare as they needed support to be able to provide a safe home environment.

All three kids have autism spectrum disorder and both parents have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, which made some days more difficult than others. The main concern was environmental neglect – meaning the home was not a safe place for children and there were lots of hazards that needed to be managed.

The family begun with the home safety module which focuses on the importance of physical safety in the home, identifying types of hazards commonly found in homes (and the ways to remove these hazards) and the importance of child supervision.

Kara*, Berry Street’s SafeCare trainer worked with the family to complete the first module. The parents worked to remove hazards from their home, improve hygiene and cleanliness, and increase safety by installing safety gates and latches. They’ve also created safe practices in the kitchen, such as always using different utensils and cutting boards when preparing meat and vegetables.

The three children now actively participate in the family’s daily cleaning schedule and have been proud to play a part in keeping their home clean and tidy. The parents closely supervise their children, making sure it’s safe for them to participate in each household activity.

The family are excited to complete the remaining two modules. Thank you for your support in making this family and many others live safely and stay together.

Help provide specialised support to families, like the Richards family

With the right help and support, children and young people can recover from trauma and lead healthy, happy lives. Through programs like SafeCare, we can help create lasting change for children, young people and families.

Help us continue to provide trauma-informed care for children, young people and families who have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma. Donate today to support young people and families, like the Richards, who are getting the specialist support they need to build the life they imagine for themselves.

*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the young person in our care.