Brevard C.A.R.E.S. (Coordination, Advocacy, Resources, Education and Support) is a family-centered, strength-based, and community-driven model for child abuse prevention and family preservation. One of the programs offered by Brevard C.A.R.E.S. is the Safety Management Services Team.
Safety Management Services are crisis response services for children at risk of removal from parental care when the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has identified present danger. Safety Management services are utilized to reduce entry into the foster care system by providing rapid response to families in need of intensive support.
Safety Management Services include an assessment of family needs and strengths, individual and family counseling services, education for parents on how to effectively manage stress and resolve conflict.
Read about how the safety management team helped a local family:
We worked with a young mother who had recently given birth to her first child. Her baby was born with substances in her system. Even though the mother had routinely maintained employment and had some college attendance under her belt, at the time of case inception, she had no permanent residence for her and the child to go to after the delivery. The mother had been living with a friend and had recently lost her apartment and had recently become unemployed. Initially, the mother was hesitant to reveal any natural supports, potentially she was fearful of her families and friends perception of her once her drug use became known. Although she had been previously attended a rehab program, she was shocked to find when she came out of rehab that her support systems thought she was okay, but she really didn’t feel like she was. Through intensive Safety Management Services, the mother was provided with home visits including counseling sessions and family team conferences three to five times a week that resulted in her mending bridges with her parents, accessing substance abuse services and attending NA and beginning to maintain a drug free lifestyle. We also educated her family on the process of recovery, which helped them to become a stronger support for her. By the end of our work with her family she had become employed at a local restaurant and felt more secure in her abilities as a parent and provider for her child.
For additional information about this program, please contact Heather.Howlett@brevardcares.org or 321-536-9698. Learn more about Brevard C.A.R.E.S. online at www.brevardcares.org.
