Family Focus supports families through Family Intervention, Supported Family Visits, Carer Support, Life Story Therapy, Youth Independance Programs & Mentoring. Sam Stitt has worked with children for some 25 years with a background in Early Childhood Education and over 15 years experience working in the child protection/ welfare system. Her experience has been primarily working with children in the out of home care sector, homeless youth and birth families through family intervention 'in home' support. Family Focus is a small private practice providing support for families in the child protection system through 4 main areas. Family Intervention ('In home' support)
Sometimes parents struggle to keep on top of parenting, meeting the needs of their children and themselves, manage the home and ensure safety. Family Focus comes to the client, to their home, or a safe place to work alongside families or individuals on goals which may be part of their formal 'case plan' or personal goals they can't seem to manage on their own. Practical, realistic, strength's based support if offered to the client so that they are very much a part of the process of 'change', included in decision making and identifying what it is that they may need to work through to be able to get back on track. . In many cases this may include reflecting on their own childhood. For young people transitioning from the care system and into independence, they may need extra support to get them to where they want to be and 'hope' they will be 'ok'. Family Focus supports young people who are looking for a safe place to live, education or employment, re-connection with family and independent skills like cooking, budgeting, looking after their health and wellbeing. Family Focus is of the belief that Family Intervention needs to be practical, uncomplicated and transparent so that families engage in the process of change. Supported Family Contact
Where there may still be some risk during family time that means it needs observation/feedback or perhaps just someone to co-ordinate siblings living separately and provide some structure and guidance to the parent to ensure the family’s time is maximized. Family Focus works flexibly around families commitments and time frames so that bringing families together, even for a short period, is meaningful, engaging and fun! Carer Support & Education
Whether foster parents or family carers need additional supports outside of their support agency or an independent person to assess what support the family may need. This may be the need after a concern has been raised in relation to their care. Sam has developed a set of two workshops on the topic of Reunification. The aim of these 3 hour workshops is to expose foster and kin carers to the process of Reunification and gain a better understanding of how they can play a vital role in the plan for children to return home. (further info on the workshops is available) Workshops can be run either in groups or one on one. Life Story Therapy
Working alongside Gov and Non Gov Departments and with families to work with children (and at times, parents) to retrace their history, perhaps their period of time in care (past homes/ placements) and collate a ‘story’ of their life. This work may be as simple as researching a child’s ‘birth story’ by talking to a parent to gain an insight into their early life and collecting photos and memories. It may also stem from a child wishing to know about why he is in care and how he came to be. Life Story is generally part of a case plan for a child who may be at the stage where they are in need of information about their history to work through their trauma. Family Focus may be able to do the time consuming ‘ground work’ that case workers can’t afford to put aside in their busy schedules. Sam has been trained and mentored by UK practitioner Richard Rose from Child Trauma Intervention Services, and Megan Bayliss, local social worker and Life Story advocate.
**Family Focus also employs Youth Mentors who work with single or small groups of children. Their role is to support children and young people grow and learn, feel safe and supported. Their engagement with clients may be to focus on a specific need or challenge, practice social skills in varying environments, assist with 'in school' support by working alongside Educators, provide opportunities for outdoor adventure, exercise and engage in team activities. Please contact Sam directly to request a Schedule of Fees or have a chat about yourself or a potential client in need. Supporting youth and families in the child protection system.......
