Crisis Accommodation Service (CAS)
Aboriginal Family Support Services
Background
Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS) provides safe and culturally appropriate care options for Aboriginal children and young people who are unable to live with their immediate family. AFSS is funded by the Department for Families and Communities to recruit, train and support foster carers to provide emergency, long term and respite care for Aboriginal children and young people in the Child Protection system. At times, due to the high needs of the child requiring care, AFSS is unable to locate a suitable placement option for the child within AFSS pool of carers. In this instance the child may be referred to a non Aboriginal Alternative Care provider for a suitable placement to be found. If a suitable placement can not be found with a non Aboriginal Alternative Care provider, an alternative to home based foster care is sourced by Children, Youth and Family Services.
It is becoming increasing difficult to source in home foster care options for children and young people with high needs and difficult behaviours entering the Child Protection area. Options being explored by Children, Youth and Family Services include Community Residential Care (CRC), BCS Extremes Program and Life Without Barriers program. Unfortunately, these options are placed under extreme pressure due to the large number of children with challenging behaviours entering this sector grows in direct contrast to the diminishing number of carers able to care for these children.
What are the options?
AFSS continues to actively recruit Aboriginal foster carers to care for Aboriginal children and young people entering the Alternative Care area. Over the past two years AFSS number of carers has not grown in line with the number of Aboriginal children requiring care. AFSS has actively recruited non Aboriginal carers to provide specialist foster care for a number of children with special needs and looked at alternative options including the establishment of an Emergency/Respite house to meet the demand. Sadly, still a number of Aboriginal children and young people are spending nights in inappropriate care options.
AFSS believes the Crisis Accommodation Service is a suitable and culturally appropriate service that will address the number of Aboriginal children and young people to ensure safe and appropriate care options when they are unable to live with their family.
Crisis Accommodation Service (CAS)
The Service
AFSS currently runs two youth accommodation services located in the metropolitan area. The service is funded through Supported Assistance Accommodation Program, (SAAP), Youth Accommodation Support Service. The services are staffed 24 hours a day through three rotating shifts. It is anticipated a model that draws from our experiences in providing 24 hour residential care support services but with a foster care perspective will be developed and implemented.
AFSS will recruit people that have experience working with children and young people with challenging behaviours and special needs. New recruits will have extensive orientation training particularly in regards to supporting and caring for Aboriginal children and young people. Support workers will be supported by AFSS Alternative Care Team and access ongoing training and staff development.
The Crisis Accommodation service will run a three shift 24 hour a day service. AFSS will employ support workers on a long term contract that would ensure continuity of care by paid care professionals. The care worker will provide a safe, caring and culturally sensitive home for the children whilst long term options are being investigated by Families SA.  It is anticipated the children and young people in the service would attend school or vocational training during the day. Staff will be available 24 hours a day.

The Properties
AFSS currently leases two properties from the Housing SA that are located in the Northern Suburbs & the Southern Suburbs.
The properties are each furnished to provide accommodation for up to two children and young people.  Each property is made up of two self contained areas that are attached, similar to maisonettes.  Each area has private and self contained outdoor areas.
The main part of each house comprises two or three bedrooms, a large lounge/dining area, kitchen, laundry and bathroom/toilet

The Staff
AFSS is looking to recruit a team of dynamic support worker’s that will provide a range of educational and recreational programs to children and young people.  The support workers will need to be self motivated, with demonstrated high level of initiative and creativity.  To provide safe and meaningful care options for children and young people who are unable to be placed with a foster care family.
AFSS will employ support workers on a long term contract that would ensure continuity of care by professional care workers. The care worker will provide a safe, caring and culturally sensitive home for the children.