Bright Futures – Homeless Children’s Specialist Support Service

Bright Futures provides enhanced case management and group work responses to children whose families are being supported by a homelessness and/or family violence case manager in Melbourne’s North and West Metropolitan Regions.

brightfutures@merri.org.au

(03) 9359 5493

22 Lakeside Drv, Broadmeadows 3047

about this program

Who is the program for?

Children 0-17 accompanying their families who are being supported by a family violence or homelessness case manager.

Where is the program offered?

North and West Metropolitan area of Melbourne.

How can you access this program?

Referrals must come from a homelessness or family violence case manager working with the primary carer or family. Referring workers should first contact the Bright Futures team to discuss any potential referrals. Bright Futures funding does not allow self-referrals.

What are the streams?

Bright Futures offers 3 streams of support to children and young people:

Stream 1 — Assessment and Development of a Case Plan

Bright Futures offer support by facilitating a collaborative assessment with the primary carer and the child or young person (where possible). The Bright Futures assessment process supports the development of a holistic case plan for the child or young person, outlining the supports they would like.

After the assessment and case plan are complete, there are two support pathways:

Hand back to referring worker for support.
If support needs may be met by the referring agency, the Bright Futures team will organise a hand-over to go through the case plan with the client, parent/caregiver and referring agency.
Move to Bright Futures case management.

If support needs cannot be met by the referring worker and require specialist support, the child or young person will enter Stream 2 – Enhanced Case Management.

Assessment and case planning usually occurs over 3-4 appointments.

Stream 2 — Enhanced Case Management

Bright Futures offers enhanced case management for children and young people by providing specialist support to meet the needs identified in their case plan. Enhanced case management involves meeting with the child or young person and their primary carer once every 1-2 weeks, depending upon need.

The goals of enhanced case management might include:

Intensive support that is focused on social, recreational, health and educational support needs
Identification and linkages into appropriate services
Supporting positive interactions with peers and family
Minimisation of anxiety and stress-related tension caused by various traumatic experiences
Advocacy on children and young people’s rights to access services within their community

Enhanced case management support is provided for 3 – 6 months.

Stream 3 — Therapeutic Group Work

The Bright Futures group work program is a therapeutic creative arts group that provides space away from some of the more stressful times children may have encountered through their experience of homelessness and/or family violence. Therapeutic methods such as art, movement, games and small group discussions create an atmosphere that feels safe and relaxed. Groups explore themes such as family and identity, understanding and communicating feelings, responding to intense emotions, safety & supports, strengths and hopes and dreams.

Bright Futures work in partnership with other services in the North and West regions to run groups throughout the area aimed at different ages such as:

Infants and mothers
Primary school-aged children
High school-aged children

The groups are run in different locations each term, with various partner agencies. To discuss a group partnership, please contact the team.

Referral process:

Co-Case Management

Bright Futures work in a co-case management model. The referring worker must maintain support with the primary carer or family for the duration of Bright Futures involvement so that any support needs for the primary carer and family as a whole can continue to be addressed.

Stage 1 – Initial enquiry and screening call	Referrers to have an initial conversation with a Bright Futures team member regarding a potential referral. If referral sounds appropriate for Bright Futures, then a referral form will be emailed to the referring worker to complete and return to Bright Futures.
Stage 2 – Discussion of referrals	Once Bright Futures have received a referral, it will be discussed at the fortnightly team meeting. If it’s appropriate for a Bright Futures Stream 1 assessment, a Bright Futures worker will be allocated for a follow-up.
Stage 3 – Handover	The allocated Bright Futures worker will then contact the referring worker to set up a handover appointment with the referring worker, Bright Futures worker, and the parent/caregiver. Handover – the opportunity for the referring worker to introduce the Bright Futures worker. Bright Futures to explain the program, assessment process, provide welcome pack documents and complete the consent forms.
Stage 4 – Assessment and case planning	Assessment – Usually completed over 2-3 visits with a mixture of visits with just the parent/caregiver and visits involving the children/young people. Case Planning – Completed over 1 visit at the end of the assessment.
Stage 5 – Collaborative decision-making	Once Assessment and Case Planning are completed, Bright Futures will discuss (at the fortnightly team meeting) whether the referral will be moved to Stream 2 – Enhanced Case Management or passed back to the referring worker for followup. Bright Futures will keep the referring workers, and parent/caregiver informed throughout this process.

What are the objectives of the program?

Provide holistic case management and group work support to children and young people who have experienced homelessness and family violence to improve social, emotional, educational and physical wellbeing.