Lower Mountains Family Support Service

An Overview of the service –Purpose PracticesPeoplePartners

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Our Purpose

• LMFSS is a non-profit welfare service founded in 1990 and supported by Blaxland Uniting Church/Uniting Care

• The service employs trained workers who provide counselling, support, groups, information, advocacy and practical assistance to families

• The service is managed by a Management Committee and is a member of Family Services NSW.

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Our Vision

Lower Mountains Family Support Service is committed to strengthening families and building community.

 Our Mission….inspired by the example of Jesus, is to respond to the needs of children, families and communities with caring and compassion. 

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In the beginning...

• Community Survey

Generalist Family Support Model

• Seeding Grant (reducible over 3 years)- Wesley Dalmar- $30000 approx

• 1 full time worker

• Office in church building

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The service today• Evidence based Family support model incorporating:

prevention, early intervention and community capacity building projects

• 95% of funding

from Government sources• I full time manager, 11 part time workers• 4 Offices, counselling & interview rooms, large food

storage area- building refurbished and extended twice on church grounds

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Our Practice

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Our Shared PhilosophyUnderpinning our organisation and our work is a

commitment to Strengths Based Practice

Our Values• Respect for all family members which includes respecting confidentiality

and a non-judgemental approach• Respect for peoples of different abilities, culture, language, gender, sexual

preference, religion and perceived social or financial situation• Professional standards of service delivery• Attention to the safety and well being of family members and staff• A focus on collaborative partnerships- within our organisation, with

families & other agencies• A responsive and flexible approach to family needs

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Helping

Other

Possibilities Emerge

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support families to raise happy, healthy children in a safe and nurturing environment

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Each program works to …

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Our Programs

Our People• 12 staff working on 8 different projects over 240 hours per week

Manager

Admin Worker

Client Liaison worker

6 family Workers

2 parent group workers Project worker- early childhood services; Mobile Hub Coordinator

(The equivalent of 6.9 EFT)

• 7 Office volunteers-38 hpw

• 1 Volunteer Food Drive Coordinator

• Lots (over 35) of volunteers who support various projects in various ways

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Our clients..2008-09Emergency Relief- • Food- over 345 people including 219 children• Financial- 70 Families-218 children

Family Work- • Home visiting -87 families & 140+ children

Parent groups-• 203 parents

Supported Playgroups• 62 parents-90 children

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Issues that brought people to our service

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Our Partners

Volunteer Support• Management Committee• Emergency Relief- Food Drives• Office work

Assisting with• Childcare• Family week celebrations• Financial Support• Anything else we think of along the way!

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Community PartnersLocal schools/ pre schools/family day care

Community Health

Rotary

Lions Club

Zonta

Local churches

Neighbourhood Centres

Local Businesses

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Project Partners

• Wesley Mission

• Connect Child & Family Services

• Blue Mountains City Council

• Mountains Outreach Community Services

• Blue Mountains Family Support Service

• Gunedoo Child Protection Service

• SPYNS Inc

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Government Funding-Government Funding-

• Families NSW

• Community Services Grants Program

• Brighter Futures

• Community Investment Program

• Family Support Program

• Blue Mountains City Council

Church & Community InvestmentChurch & Community Investment

• ‘Friends of Family Support’

• Blaxland Uniting Church

• Local churches, individuals and service groups19/04/23 Lower Mountains FSS 18

Funding Partnerships..

Food Relief- Christmas Hampers

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Winmalee Community Hub

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