Crisis support services for families

In times of family crisis — when there is violence in the home, or when a child is at risk of harm through abuse or neglect — it helps to know that support is only a phone call away.

In an emergency always call your local emergency number (for example 911 in the US and Canada, 112 across the EU and many countries, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia) #

If you or someone in your family is thinking about hurting themselves, contact a crisis support line. If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child, contact your local child protection service or the police. The resources at the end of this article list helplines you can call.

Child protection#

Meeting the needs of children and keeping them safe is a shared responsibility between individuals, families, the community and government. When the adults caring for children fail to meet their responsibilities, are abusive, or exploit their position of power, the child protection system is empowered to investigate alleged abuse and neglect and to intervene legally to protect a child when needed.

Child protection is a statutory service aimed at children and young people at significant risk of harm from abuse or neglect, where a parent is unable or unlikely to protect them. Its main functions are to:

• investigate where it is alleged that a child is at risk of significant harm,
• apply to a children’s court if a child’s safety cannot be ensured within the family,
• administer protection orders made by the court, and
• refer children and families to services that support the ongoing safety and wellbeing of children.

Reporting concerns#

In many places, certain professionals who work with children — for example, doctors, nurses and midwives, teachers and school principals, police officers, early childhood workers, out-of-home care workers, psychologists and school counsellors — are required to report to child protection when they form a reasonable belief that a child has been, or is at risk of, significant harm from physical or sexual abuse and the parents have not protected, or are unlikely to protect, the child.

In addition, any person who believes on reasonable grounds that a child needs protection can make a report. Child protection then decides how to respond. This may mean giving advice to the person reporting, progressing the matter to an investigation, referring the family to community support services, or taking no further action.

Some jurisdictions also make it an offence to stay silent about child sexual abuse. Where such laws apply, any adult who reasonably believes that a sexual offence has been committed by an adult against a child must disclose that information to police, unless they have a reasonable excuse. These laws can apply to all adults, not only to people who work with children.

Out-of-home care placements#

Out-of-home care provides alternative living arrangements for children who are not able to live with a parent. These placements often follow a court order and can include:

• Kinship care — the child is placed with relatives, supported by the relevant authority or a community service organisation.
• Foster care — placement with foster parents, supported by a service organisation.
• Residential care — placement in a residential unit staffed by support workers.
• Voluntary care — where there is no court order, a parent may consent to a voluntary arrangement for the temporary care of their child.

Kinship and foster care are sometimes called “home-based care” because they take place in a home.

Family violence support#

If you are experiencing violence at home, family support services and violence prevention programs may be available. These can include individual counselling, specialised support groups and referral services. They aim first to promote early intervention that prevents family violence from occurring or escalating, and second to prevent future violence by offering post-crisis support.

Such services can also help children to build coping skills and self-esteem and to develop non-violent ways of solving problems. They may help women who want to arrange an intervention or protection order, and can help arrange refuge accommodation. If you are a woman who needs emergency help to escape family violence, contact a family violence response service in your area.

Financial help for families#

Some governments provide one-off crisis payments to help people facing difficult or extreme circumstances, such as having to leave home because of family violence, being affected by a natural disaster, or being released from prison or psychiatric confinement. Check what support is available where you live.

Accessing an interpreter#

For family members who are not confident with the local language, many government health services offer interpreter support in person, over the phone or by videoconference. Simply tell your service provider that you would like an interpreter, specifying the language or dialect you speak and whether you would prefer a male or female interpreter.

Where to get help#