Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: The Family Reconciliation Program aims to assist young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to resolve conflicts and re-establish relationships with their families and others who play an important role in their lives.

Aims
• Prevent young people entering into a cycle of homelessness as a result of family conflict.
• Intervene in the initial crisis time for young people at risk of homelessness and their families to resolve conflict.
• Work with young people and their families to encourage better communication and problem solving.


Objectives
• Develop strategies for intervening earlier with young people & their families, taking into account both the strengths and potential risks.

• Take a flexible approach to service provision so that it will include:
-Working with young people who are living at home and who are assessed as being at imminent risk of homelessness.
-Supporting young people to maintain family relationships if they choose to, or are forced to leave home.
-Assisting young people who have left home re-establish supportive relationships with family.
-Provide support to the homelessness service system to engage family work with young people.
-Develop linkages with other services offering support to young people and their families around issues of conflict.

Eligibility
• Is the young person aged 16 or 17 years
• Is at risk of homelessness (this might include a stated intention to leave home or where there is a threat of eviction)
• Have made contact with a homelessness service and are recently homeless: or
• Are in receipt of accommodation from a homelessness service and are assessed as having unresolved family issues, which are contributing to their homelessness.

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: Description

MASP provides a centre-based support service which offers daily planned activities, personal care and a lunchtime meal for individuals who have a disability, are homeless, frail/aged and socially isolated.

The service operates 6 days a week, is free to individuals and located at the Corner of Sunnyside Avenue & Thirteenth St Mildura. Hours of operation are Mon to Fri (10am - 3pm).

Eligibility determined by assessment. Please contact Disability Services to arrange an appointment

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
No Fee

Additional Information: The Intensive Case Management Service is a targeted service response to a specific group of highly vulnerable, at 'risk' young people.

The initiative will operate on the principles of reducing high-risk behaviour in the context of the High Risk Management Plan, increasing the stability in the young person's life and providing continuity of care, including relationships building.

The service aims to allow for intensity of contact, flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of the respective young person. Therefore, the service will only cater for a small caseload of up to six young people at any one time.

Access to the package of services available will be determined by whether the young person is likely to be, or has been listed on the Care & Protection High Risk Schedule and meets the following criteria:
A current client of the Child Protection Service, and generally on a Guardianship or Custody Order, although status should not be a sole determinant for inclusion in the target group.

The presence of a corrective order will not exclude a young person from accessing the program.

The service will cater for young people considered to be at High Risk due to their behaviour or other factors that have lead to their involvement with the Department of Human Services, Child Protection or Juvenile Justice Units. However, when the caseload allows, the service will also accept referrals to assist young people in a preventive way to lessen the risk of them becoming involved with the Statutory Protective and Corrective systems.

Aged between 12 and 18 years old;
Present with multiple and complex behavioural and/or emotional difficulties including:
• Challenging behaviour at home

• Substance abuse

• Suicidal tendencies

• Aggression

• Chronic absconding

• Prostitution

• Association with paedophiles

• Emerging or diagnosed psychiatric or psychological disorder

• Sexual offending

• Estranged or non-existent relationships within their family;

• Require long term care and substantial support to meet their needs of care and protection.

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: About the program:

Targeted at individuals with a disability who have displayed the necessary maturity and expressed their wish to become more independent with the goal of moving into independent living within the next six months.

It focuses around supporting the individual to gain the necessary skills to live independently in the community, to form positive peer relationships and to provide problem solving strategies to manage difficult situations.

Parents are consulted throughout the process to ensure that the positive reinforcement of new skills is continuing at home. Following the completion of the program, support is offered on a weekly basis to ensure that skills are maintained.
Eligibility determined by assessment. Please contact Disability Services to arrange an appointment.


Participants focus upon:

-- Keeping Safe in their Community
-- Safety in the home
-- Personal Hygiene
-- Cooking & Household Cleanliness
-- Budgeting
-- Grocery shopping
-- Travel

Participant Expenses:

-- food/grocery purchases for that weekend
-- travel expenses as required
-- Activity expenses as required
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Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: The aims of Finding Solutions are to support young people and their families who are experiencing conflict and disconnection, and to provide an earlier intervention response to young people who are at risk of entering first time out of home care placement.

Finding Solutions responds to young people who are aged between 12-15 and their families within 24 hours who are experiencing

-- Family Disconnection/Conflict
-- Imminent risk of entering out of home care
-- Disconnection from school/education/training, social support and recreational activities.

Interventions can include:

-- Information/referral
-- Mediation, Conflict resolution sessions
-- Intensive in home/outreach support
-- Parenting support
-- Case management

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: The Leaving Care & After Care Support Program works to achieve better outcomes for young people leaving care by assisting in the development of life skills, providing links to education, employment and training options and preventing homelessness through the creation of pathways to sustainable long term housing options.

What can the program offer?


-- Support and guidance in developing the living skills necessary to successfully achieve the transition from care to independent living
-- Support to maintain links or reconnect with family and significant others
-- Opportunities to experience independent living situations prior to leaving 'out of home care' placements
-- A comprehensive support plan
-- Links to educational and vocational opportunities
-- Access to secure and safe housing after leaving care

Who is it for?

The program is designed to assist young people (16-21 years) who are leaving care in the Mallee region. It is expected that young people will enter the program at least three months prior to leaving care. Access to the program is aimed at young people who have been assessed as being at risk of long-term homelessness and:


-- Have limited access to alternative housing and support arrangements; and
-- Have the ability to live in a THM or private rental property with support; and
-- Have the ability to move to sustainable independent living within 12 months
-- Priority is given to young people exiting the MASP OOHC program.

Referrals to the program can take place via:

-- Self referral
-- Out-of-Home care providers
-- DHS Child Protection
-- Other service providers

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: About The Program
The Housing Support Program is a confidential service which aims to provide support and assistance to those that are in crisis, disadvantage, homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness to achieve their maximun possible degree of self reliance and independence.

Aims of MASP Housing Support Program

-Assist individuals to resolve crisis
-Re-establish family and community links
-To address housing needs to achieve stability, security and safety
-To empower people to achieve to their maximun possible level of self reliance and independence

Types of support and assistance include:

- information regarding accommodation options in the local area.
- advice and referral to successfully link clients with appropriate services.
- assistance with access and/or referral to appropriate accommodation providers.
- assistance with applications and provide advocacy for transitional, public and private rental housing.
- early intervention strategies for young people at risk of homelessness via assistance to access family mediation.
- personal crisis support and referral where appropriate.
- advocacy/liaison/representation, housing establishment assistance.
- case management support to provide ongoing housing support and assistance.
- promotion of independence and self reliance through providing opportunities to develop living/life skills.
- assessment and access to financial assistance.

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Fees Apply

Additional Information: Description:
MASP provides a flexible range of support and services in the home or community to assist individuals to live as independently as possible.

Objective:
MASP provides home and community based support services to enable individuals with a disability who require support to:
- live outside disability funded staff residential accommodation
- remain living in their own homes
- maintain maximum independence
- increase independence
- move to more independent living arrangements
- access to community activities and facilities
- learn independent living skills such as:
. cooking
. menu planning
. shopping
. budgeting
. community access
. safety in the community
. linking to employment/training
. hygiene
. travel education
. complete personal care tasks.
Eligibility determined by assessment. Please contact Disability Services to arrange an appointment


Services Provided:

Support Co-ordination

-- Assessment of support needs
-- Development of a 'support plan'
-- Review and monitoring of the 'support plan'
-- Assistance with managing and co-ordination service provision and service providers.

Personal Care

-- Development of, or assistance with personal care skills ( bathing, grooming, dressing etc.)
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Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: Description:
The social support component of the service includes behaviour modification strategies which are developed for individuals who display behaviours which prevent their positive interaction with peers and participation in other community activities.
Objective:
Individuals receive the assistance of a support worker who, on an intensive one to one basis, helps them develop the required social skills to aid community inclusion and integration into social group situations.

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: Youth Leadership Program - Kokoda

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
No Fee

Additional Information: What is the program about? The MASP OOHC program works to provide safe and supportive care for young people aged up to 17 years who are unable to live with their own family for a period of time. Where possible, the aim of the program is for family reunification. However, for the children and young people who cannot return to their families, the program will assist them to make the transition either into permanent care or into independent living arrangements. Why do the young people need an Out of Home Placement? The young people who require an Out of Home Placement are: -- Those who are in crisis as a result of family breakdown -- Need protection from neglect or abusive situations -- Young people who are homeless and require accommodation, support and/or supervision whilst on bail, safe custody or other Statutory Court Orders which avoids unnecessary placements in custody. How long can a young person be in an Out of Home Placement? Placements of children and young people can vary from one day to a number of years depending on the circumstances. What accommodation options does the program have available? The MASP OOHC program has two components to cater for the various accommodation and support needs of young people. – Home Based Care -- This model of care is a model of support in a naturally occurring household in the community. Children and young people are placed with trained 'caregivers' in their own households. The caregivers will provide board and lodging in a caring and supportive environment with 24 hour support from the agency Placement & Support workers. These staff provide both practical support (e.g. supervising family access visits, providing transport to services) and general support to clients, their families and the caregivers within the Home Based Care service. – Residential Care -- Provides 24 hour support to young people displaying a range of 'High Risk' behaviours, such behaviours include drug and alcohol abuse, suicide attempts or suicide ideation, self-harming, general defiance, school refusal and sexually promiscuous behaviours. This model of placement is intensive in nature, so the presenting issues can be identified and the appropriate services can be introduced to assist in reducing the risk taking behaviour. How are young people referred to the program? The young people requiring services through the MASP OOHC program must be referred through the Victorian Department of Human Services' Child Protection Unit. How do I become a caregiver with the program? Critical to the success of the Home Based Care Program are the people and families who volunteer their time and experience to become caregivers. Caregivers are offered ongoing support and a tax-free reimbursement to provide care. Those interested in becoming carers should contact MASP. Applicants will be screened and will undergo a training program before being approved by a Panel of child protection professionals.

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Fees Apply

Additional Information: Description:
MASP staff assist individuals to think about the things they want to do in their lives and what supports they might need to make these things happen.

Objective:
Individuals are assisted to think about what supports they require from friends and family, services offered to the general community or from disability specific services.

MASP helps individuals develop life and support plans that are individualised, flexible, directed by the individual with a disability, considerate and respectful of the individual's family and other individuals who are important to the individual with a disability, maximise the choice and independence of the individual with a disability and tailored to the goals, needs and aspirations of the individual with a disability.

Eligibility determined by assessment. Please contact Disability Services to arrange an appointment.

Address:
118-124 Pine Avenue, MILDURA, VIC, 3500

Billing:
Other Option

Additional Information: Mallee Child Youth & Family Services Alliance, Mission:

To provide a flexible, collaborative and innovative child and family service, through quality work relations between local services and agencies.

MCYFSA Partners:

-- Mallee Accommodation & Support Program
-- Centacare
-- Mallee Family Care
-- Department of Human Services
-- Murray Valley Aboriginal Corporation
-- St Lukes Family Services
-- Mallee Track Health & Community Services
-- Mildura and District Aboriginal Services (covering Mildura & Swan Hill)

The Primary aims of MCYFSA is to:

-- Minimise reports and the progression of families into the child protection system
-- Provide an improved service capacity for families who may not come into contact with child protection services
-- Divert a proportion of families away from protective services to community services.

How?

MCYFSA provides a child centred, family focussed approach that centres on the needs of the family as a whole, in order to reach best outcomes for children and young people.

MCYFSA is notified of a family in need by professionals or self referral via a central intake system (ChildFIRST). MCYFSA encourages families to self refer to the service, as MCYFSA believes that families themselves have the best information about their situation. The case is then allocated to the most appropriate agency.

Interventions include but are not limited to:

-- Assessment
-- Family Counselling
-- Case Management
-- Family conflict resolution/Mediation
-- Referral
-- Short term, medium and long term intervention.

Contact details for Mallee Child, Youth & Family Services Alliance (MASP Mildura)
Phone: 1300 625 533 email: childfirst@masp.org.au
Office Location: MASP 140 Langtree Avenue, Mildura, 3500
Further inforamtion available at www.masp.org.au