How Children And Family Services Can Assist A Family

Families come from all walks of life, and each is unique, facing their own ups and downs. Some families look like they’re well-off but may have problems that are unknown to a casual observer. Meanwhile, low-income families may be making it through simply by sticking together and supporting one another. No two families are the same; no two families' challenges are the same. Whatever your situation may be, child and family services can help a family that is in trouble. Keep reading to learn more about how child and family services came to be and how you can seek help for your family.

What are child and family services?

A child and family service assists families that are in trouble. They care for families whether the difficulties are financial, emotional, or physical. In other words, they assist those who may have mental illnesses, families that are at odds with one another, or those who are experiencing financial stress—and much more. They serve families from every walk of life. These services are typically non-profit or governmental, such as your state’s Department of Children and Families. They may be provided by request or as mandated by a court, depending upon what's happening in the home. The US government believes that while children should be taken from their family if they live in an abusive situation (such as a situation of domestic violence) and placed into foster care until they can be adopted, preserving the family unit is important, and if an intervention can be done to prevent separating a child and families, then all the better. Sometimes a child and family service can help in these situations.

You have probably heard of some of the non-profit organizations that are child and family services from various news events and reports. UNICEF, Save the Children, Free the Children, and United Family Services are just a few examples. 

History & background

Before any family and child services were around, children from poor communities or abusive families were sent to almshouses, which were like orphanages for the poor. These houses also housed poor adults who may have been mentally ill or suffering from diseases.

As you might have guessed, these could make the problem even worse. First, if there were diseased adults in the house, that disease could be spread to the children; children aren't always able to fight off illness like an adult. Living with adults could lead to other abusive situations as well. Also, almshouses tended to have low-quality care. The food was poor, the houses were unsanitary, and children were dying because of it. Additionally, they were not regulated to spot and report abuse. The houses that were designed to help ended up hurting instead.

Around the mid-20th century, almshouses began being phased out due to their nature, and orphanages for children only were established. Separating the children from the adults was a good step, but there was still a problem. These homes took children out of abusive situations, but the children began feeling a disconnect because they were away from their families. Soon after, more organizations popped up to help the families instead of breaking them apart. Help was offered through both government and non-profit services.

These organizations were developed because more people were seeing the effects of separating the child from the family. People started to believe that unless the problem couldn't be fixed, no child should be removed from their home. These services helped stabilize a home situation and create a better environment for the child.

When should I use these services?

You should never be afraid to ask for help if you're in need. Here are a few situations in which services might be helpful:

You live in a challenging neighborhood

Not every child gets to grow up in a well-off neighborhood. Growing up poor can lead to some bad influences on a child, and a child and family service can help you and your family avoid those influences and also help you to get your child the adequate care they need. Poor neighborhoods may have violence and drugs that are prevalent and hard to escape. A good service can help lead a child to a better life.

You’re low income

Many children are part of families that are low income. Children are expensive, and in a perfect world, everyone would have enough money to raise a child in a good environment. However, things happen. As you can probably guess, this can lead to problems for a child. Children growing up in a low-income household can have a harder time succeeding as they grow up. They may have a hard time getting a good education. Their parents may be stressed and take it out on their children, or they may be working so much they don't have a lot of time for their children.

Some services may only help either the children or the parents; there are two-generation programs, however, that can help both. These programs can help the parents get on their feet to provide for their child, while the child can learn how to be successful and break the poverty cycle.

Services do this by providing educational services to the family. The parents may get easier access to higher education, while the children may get help to receive a better education, putting them on the path to success. They can also give the parents workforce training to help them land better jobs to provide more for their family.

There is abuse in the family

Abuse in the household can be a mandated reason people are referred to a child and family service. Many people don’t want to talk about abuse in the family until they finally decide to report it—and therefore no help is being received. Help can be requested voluntarily, though. While your family should separate from their abuser, if possible, there are some situations where the abuse can be stopped. This is especially true if the abuse has not happened yet, but there is still a negative bubble surrounding the family. For instance, if the parents are always fighting or if a parent is overly aggressive with a child. Help is available to ensure that children are being raised in a safe environment.

You just want your family to succeed

Sometimes, you may not even be in that bad of a situation, but you want to keep up the good work and make sure you’re continuing to succeed. For example, maybe your child’s grades are bad or you and your partner got into a fight. Whatever the case, there is a service out there for you. Many services are not based on income, but rather simply on need.

What these services can do for you

There are many different services available to you and ways you can get help for you and your family. Here are just a few of the types of assistance available.

Higher education and workforce training

These services can help families become more stable when it comes to their income. While no service can wave a magic wand and let families live a life where they have lots of money, they can provide help to get families back on their feet. Examples include GED training, financial aid for higher education, and even daycare, which can be useful for parents who want to attend classes at night or on the weekend.

Job training is also available. If someone in the family is unable to find work, they may be put in workforce development, which can help increase the odds of finding a good and stable job.

Help for education is available for children as well. Instead of being put in a school that’s low-quality, a child may be put in a higher-quality education center. Head Start programs can help with early childhood development. The education and support a child receives can help that child be more successful as they grow.

Health services