FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

 

The goal of the Family Support Services department is to improve the quality of life for high risk families and individuals.  This is accomplished by

  • instilling hope in the people we serve,
  • offering assistance to meeting basic needs,
  • acting as advocates,
  • connecting clients to community resources,
  • increasing social networks,
  • counseling, and
  • education 

Through these activities, the hope is that clients will learn to appreciate their own strengths, develop new insights, and acquire skills that will help them cope with various life stressors and improve relationship building.

Services are designed to be culturally responsive, community-based, comprehensive, and flexible so that personal, social, and cultural needs are met. 

Services include Families First Crisis Intervention, Adult Crisis Intervention, Children’s Mental Health Case Management, and Families of Strength.

 

Families First Crisis Intervention Program

The Families First Crisis Intervention (FFCI) services are aimed at preserving families in crisis. Services are tailored to meet the specific needs of each family, and are intended to reduce the number of out-of-home placements, increase family stability, and preserve the family unit.  FFCI offer services that are voluntary, short-term (4-6 weeks), intensive (5 hours face-to-face per week), home-based, and have a 24-hour case management (on-call) capability. 

Service provision may include but not limited to:

  • parenting skills training
  • family, individual, and couples counseling
  • conflict resolution
  • positive communication skills development
  • anger and stress management
  • assessments for longer term care
  • assistance with basic needs

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Ramsey County Resident,
  • At least one child is at risk of out-of-home placement or at least one child is in the process of family reunification, and
  • Involved with Ramsey County social service

For a referral form or questions regarding eligibility, call (651) 265-6167.

 

Adult Crisis Intervention Program

The Adult Crisis Intervention Program (ACIP) provides short-term (4-6 weeks), intensive (5 hours face-to-face per week) home-based intervention services and 24-hour case management targeting adults who have been deemed vulnerable by Adult Protection of Ramsey County Department of Human Services.

This program is aimed at meeting the acute crisis needs of adults who are at low risk of harm to self or others and who are reoccurring consumers of Adult Protection Services.

ACIP services could include but are not limited to:

  • Assessing the need for conservatorship and/or if service gaps exist
  • Short-term crisis management
  • Bridging of services, for example between the referral for community elderly case management services and when the community agency begins services
  • Counseling
  • Accessing independent living support services for adults
  • Emergency assistance in housing, utility payments, clothing and food.

These activities are geared towards improving quality of life through the provision of skills necessary to live independently and to prevent future crisis. 

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Ramsey County Resident, and
  • Involved with Ramsey County Adult Protection Service

For a referral form or questions regarding eligibility, call (651) 265-6167.

 

Children’s Mental Health Case Management

The Children’s Mental Health Case Management program provides Rule 79 targeted case management services for children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance (SED). 

Case management services are designed to ensure continuity in support and advocacy for a family and child over time; and, reduce fragmentation of services. Services include but are not limited to accessing and coordinating:

  • outpatient care,
  • in-patient care,
  • medication monitoring,
  • day treatment,
  • out-of-home care,
  • diagnostic assessments,
  • parent education, and
  • community support

Services are provided in collaboration with a consortium of community based agencies in Ramsey County.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Ramsey County Resident, and
  • SED diagnosis

Please forward questions regarding eligibility to Ramsey County Intake (651) 265-6167.

 

Families of Strength Program

Families of Strength program is aimed at servicing families with children, birth to age five, who are involved with the Child Protective Services at Ramsey County. The purpose of this service is to reduce the risk of out of home placement or to reunify the family following placement.

The Families of Strength (FOS) program provides strength based, family centered, intensive six-month family preservation services, including case management, parenting support, in-home counseling, and daily group in the following areas: Parenting, Life Skills, and Relationship. Transportation and on-site childcare are provided for Families of Strength clients as part of a comprehensive delivery system.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Ramsey County Resident,
  • At least one child between the ages of 0–5, and
  • Involved with Ramsey County Child Protection

For a referral form or questions regarding eligibility, call (651) 265-6167.