We respond to families in crisis across Queensland 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Where possible, we keep families together, offering counselling and support services to help families help themselves.In situations where children and young people need to be removed from their parents for their own safety, we try to place them with extended family.We are focussed on preventing children from being abused and neglected, and have specialised teams of people dedicated to working with families and children who are identified as being 'at risk'.When we are notified that abuse or neglect is occurring within a family, we act quickly and focus on what is in the best interests of the child. In times of crisis, we help to place children away from harm (for both the short-term and long-term) and we work with people in the community to find alternative living arrangements for children and young people. We are committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are cared for in a way that respects their culture and wherever possible, are placed with extended family, community or Indigenous carers.Our work is also sensitive to the needs of children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.Children and young people who have been separated from their families, and the people who volunteer to care for them, need support. We provide support and counselling to children and their families during times of separation and provide support and training for foster and kinship carers.
We also help families and individuals to cope with relationship problems, family crises and difficulties with adolescents.
Our frontline workers operate from child safety service centres around the state. Please call the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre number on 1800 177 135.