Orange Family Support Service (OFSS) wish to let the Orange community to know they are still operating despite Covid-19 and like many, are doing things slightly differently.

OFSS assists families with dependent children whose capacity to function is limited by internal or external stresses of life.

Having opened in 1985, OFSS has assisted over 4,500 families. Staffed by one manager, three family caseworkers and one child development caseworker, they offer a flexible and professional service, tailor made to the specific needs of the clients. The free service aims at providing preventive services, with a focus on strengthening and supporting families and building on family members’ existing skills.

At this stage, OFSS are limited to online, phone and zoom/facetime consultations where virtual home visits are taking place.

Orange Family Support Service Manager, Elly Haynes explained, “We are developing technology to enable us to run our parenting programs and innovative ways to connect with our clients.”

In regards to keeping in touch with our clients, we are getting closer to the stage where we are looking at meeting up with the families by doing a home visit, though we will not be going into their homes, we might sit apart on the veranda for example. Not just for our safety, but for the client’s safety. To have that personal face to face is very important.

That will also morph into our ability to, as the restrictions lift, we will be able to accompany them to other appointments they may need to get too.”

OFSS runs a variety of family related programs. These include; Keeping Children Safe, 123 Magic, Rainbows and Play and Learn. Facilitators are creating activity packs which are being distributed fortnightly, to keep children at home engaged and continually learning.

Elly continued, “It’s been a big change for us, I’m really lucky because the staff are wonderful, we always support one another. The priority for me was the staff’s health, in doing so we are continually finding new ways to work with the community and stay connected.” As we are an essential service, we really see it now as an opportunity to learn new ways of doing things, because some of those ways we will definitely be using in the future.”

The team would also like to remind the community they are still open to receiving referrals.

“We are only a very little service, but we’ve had a big footprint in Orange over the years and we will continue to step up.”

For more information head to www.orangefamilysupportservice.com or contact the team on 6361 1004.

Orange Family Support Service offers;

Case Managing individuals and/or families, including home visiting, .

●       Advocacy and referral, where families may be having difficulties dealing with other agencies.

●       Group activities – to develop skills in such things as parenting, self-esteem, communication, relationships, play-skills for parents and children, money management and household management etc.

●       Activities for children, including special programs for children affected by issues such as domestic violence or the death or separation from a parent or loved one.

●       Activities that help family members get to know other people, to decrease social isolation and to build supportive networks within communities.

●       Access to information about resources available for those struggling with financial hardship or poverty.