NORTHERN COUNTRY AFSS has provided child and family support services to this region for over 20 years. Prior to the Alternative Care Review in 1997 the Northern Country Aboriginal Community received services through Aboriginal Child Care Agency (ACCA) now known as AFSS. Port Augusta has been the nucleus of the service with services radiating to Yorke Peninsula, Port Pirie and Whyalla. AFSS still continues to service these areas from their office located at 79 Commercial Road, Port Augusta. Today the service is funded by the Department for Families and Communities to provide principally Alternative Care services. Alternative Care services in the Northern Country region is comprised of a Foster Care and Family Preservation Program. The Foster Care Program works closely with the Aboriginal community to ensure culturally appropriate foster carers are available to care for Aboriginal children and young people when they are unable to live with their birth family. AFSS role is to source, recruit, assess, train and support members of the Aboriginal community to ensure a safe and culturally strong placement is available for Aboriginal children and young people entering the out of home care system. If you are considering becoming a carer please check out our Becoming a Carer Page. Click button The Family Preservation Program works with the birth family to address the issues that has placed their family in a state of crisis. At times children may be removed from the care of their parents due to Child Protection matters. AFSS works with the family to access appropriate services to address the issues that have caused the family crisis or at worst the removal of their child or children. Reconnection and ultimately reunification is the goal of this program as AFSS is committed to building capacity for families to care and nurture their children. AFSS role in the local communities has expanded to include first point of call for many visiting families. The wider community also looks to AFSS for advice and support when dealing with Aboriginal issues facing or existing in the community. AFSS staff sit on many committees and steering groups and have become an invaluable resource for the Whyalla, Pt Augusta, Pt Pirie and Yorke Peninsula communities. Competitive Tender 2004 In 2004 the Department for Families and Communities called to tender all alternative care services throughout South Australia. The tender was a long and cumbersome one that caused a great deal of conflict and ill feeling in the Alternative Care sector. Whilst services were awarded for the Aboriginal metropolitan and Southern Country regions, the Tender Panel felt the service tender specifications were not suitable for the Northern Country region. No service was awarded and the contracts with the Northern Country and Far West Alternative Care Service Providers were extended. Service Specification Workshops In November 2004, the Department for Families and Communities commenced discussions with the Alternative Care Providers, CYFS and other interested parties around the future of the Northern Country and Far West regions. This has led to a number of workshops that has culminated in draft specifications being developed in the following areas: • LOCAL COMMUNITY FORUMS • REGIONAL COMMUNITY FORUMS • FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES • PLACEMENT SERVICES