The goal of Families First is to solve a family crisis and prevent out-of-home placement of children, while putting the safety of the children first. What is Families First, and what skills, insights and professional attitude does a family worker need to have to be able to adequately apply Families First?
Target audience
The target group of Families First concerns families in a crisis situation that is so serious that there is a threat of out-of-home placement of one or more children aged 0 to 18 years. This occurs when the safety of one or more children is seriously threatened. These families have already received less intensive forms of help, but this help has not led to the desired results. The problems that these families may have may be related to child abuse. This includes pedagogical or affective neglect or physical, mental or sexual abuse. The child may also have serious behavioral problems. The parents often have psychological or relational problems and socio-economic problems. In addition, more than half of the families where Families First is deployed are single-parent families (where the mother is alone) and these often concern so-called multi-problem families.
Compelling structure and phasing
Families First starts when an impending out-of-home placement has been identified. An indication must be issued by the Youth Care Office in order to deploy Families First. Due to its crisis nature, this indication can be provided retroactively. The family worker will contact the family within 24 hours of notification. The crisis is used to teach family members skills that help them solve problems themselves. In addition, attempts can be made to reduce negative influences on family functioning and to increase the social network. During the first three days, the family worker focuses on getting to know each other and building a working relationship with the family. In addition, he/she examines whether the safety of the family members is not at risk. After this, the family worker makes an analysis of the goals. The social competence model is used for this. After two weeks, the goals are evaluated by the family worker and the family, and it is determined whether further help is needed and which agency is suitable for this.
The first week within a family is hectic for a family worker. During the first week, the family worker visits the family every day and does desk work, makes analyzes and makes many telephone calls.
Type of work
Families First has been developed for families within youth care. Families First can also be used in an adapted form for families with mildly intellectually disabled children or young people.
Organization principle
A team consists of three to six family workers and a team leader. When selecting team members, attention is paid to relevant professional training (such as social pedagogical assistance) and work experience in working with families in crisis situations. In addition, the candidate must have an affinity with the principles of Families First. New candidates must first complete a five-day basic training course. This basic training covers the basic principles of Families First. The candidate is then trained at locations using a shadow system. The new worker shadows a colleague, whereby the roles are gradually reversed.
Key skills a family worker should have
- The family worker signals when the safety of the child is in danger;
- The family worker must respond immediately to a crisis;
- The family worker is able to support, stimulate and teach families skills.
- The family worker can work in a team and attends organized workshops and conferences;
- The family worker can offer practical and material help.
This is important because in this way you can adequately guide families and thus prevent children from being removed from their home.
Key insights a family worker should have
- The family worker has insight into the psychological currents that are important within Families First and the different methods applied in Families First;
- The family worker has insight into the working method of Families First;
- The family worker has knowledge of the target group and knows what issues arise within this target group.
This insight is important to be able to apply the skills properly and also to be able to identify problems. This way you know how to deal with these problems adequately. Urge and coercion are an important theme here. Under what circumstances is it no longer safe for a child and do you have to take measures? In addition, you need insight to realize that urge is necessary in certain situations.
The professional attitude that a family worker must have.
The family worker is involved with the family and takes into account the goals of the family, the family worker himself, but also the goals set by the referrer. With your professional attitude you ensure that the family trusts you and has the feeling that they are being approached in a respectful manner. This makes providing assistance to families more effective. Urgency is applied at Families First. The autonomy of the family is slightly affected. On the other hand, parents may feel the need to take good care of their children, because the safety of the children is of course the most important.