STRONG Families
What is STRONG Families
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What is STRONG Families
STRONG Families is an approach that recognises the problems experienced by many families are complex and inter-linked, and that these problems can not be solved by one agency alone, or by agencies working in isolation. It also recognises that there are many barriers to bringing about coordinated and collaborative services for families with complex needs.
STRONG Families is a planning and coordinating process for consenting families who are receiving services from two or more agencies and it is considered that a formalised interagency approach will help the family to achieve desired outcomes.
Sometimes families find themselves facing many difficulties all at the same time.
These difficulties might include issues to do with bringing up children, housing, domestic violence, children staying away from school, physical health, mental health, finances, and alcohol or substance abuse.
When families are experiencing complex problems like these, help is often needed from more than one agency.
When a number of agencies are providing support to a family, it is very important that the agencies work together in a coordinated way, and that the family is involved in the decisions around what assistance is needed.
STRONG Families brings family members and agency workers together to share relevant information, identify goals and develop a plan to help meet the family’s needs.
Download a copy of the STRONG Families – Information for Families Brochure [PDF 1 mb].
STRONG Families Principles
The key operating principles of STRONG Families are:
- Respect: The family is treated professionally and with respect;
- Inclusiveness: The family is fully involved in the development of actions;
- Capacity building: Agencies and families understand the benefits of STRONG Families and are equipped to participate effectively in the process;
- Interagency approach: There is collective responsibility and decision making;
- Accountability: Agencies fulfil their commitments to families and other agencies;
- Flexibility: Resources are used optimally;
- Responsiveness: Action is timely and targeted;
- Openness: Agencies participate openly and willingly; and
- Sustainability: STRONG Families principles and processes are embedded into the normal business of agencies.
Why It Started
STRONG Families was initiated on a pilot basis in Midland and Albany in late 2000. The pilot phase was funded through individual agency contributions. The pilot projects were evaluated in 2002 and the outcomes were promising enough for the 2002 Gordon Inquiry Report ‘Putting the Picture Together’ (Gordon, Hallahan and Henry 2002) to recommend its wider implementation.
The State Government agreed with this recommendation and committed funds to enable STRONG Families to be implemented Statewide. There are currently 14 STRONG Families Coordinators across Western Australia.
Gordon Inquiry
In November 2001 the Western Australian Government announced a special inquiry into the response by Government agencies to complaints of family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities. This was prompted by the coronial inquest into the death of a 15 year old Aboriginal girl at the Swan Valley Nyoongar Community (SVNC) in 1999.
In July 2002, Putting the Picture Together, commonly known as the Gordon Report identified that thirteen agencies had been providing services to the Aboriginal girl and that individual agencies were not aware of all the services being provided by each other and there was a lack of clarity as to who was the “lead coordinating agency” (Government of Western Australia 2002,p.17).
The Government’s response Putting People First concluded that:
It is important that workers from different agencies come together to address the complex issues evident in the lives of many children and families in need (ibid,p.17)
The specific outcome of the STRONG Families model was to be a unified case plan that identifies each agency’s roles and responsibilities and a lead agency worker to oversee the plan. (ibid,p.17)
The Government of Western Australia agreed with the Gordon Inquiry’s recommendation that the STRONG Families initiative be implemented Statewide.
Related Information:
Putting the Picture Together
http://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Internal/Documents/GordonInquiryReport.pdf
Putting People First
http://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Internal/Documents/ResponsetoGordonInquiry.pdf
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