Intact Family Services
The Intact Family Services program assists parents involved with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services due to child abuse or neglect. Bethany case managers provide intensive, comprehensive family services to families in Rock Island, Mercer, and Henry counties in Illinois, with the goal of stabilizing the family and preventing out-of-home placement.
Intact Family Services works with parents, children, and the court system (if involved) to set and meet goals. They connect families with the necessary resources and referrals to address the issues that put them at risk of disruption. These include:
-
Parenting skills training;
-
Mental health treatment;
-
Substance abuse treatment;
-
Domestic violence counseling;
-
Housing/rental assistance;
-
Home repair/furnishings;
-
Transportation assistance; and
-
Food assistance.
The program is a voluntary, front-end service that builds on family strengths. Children reamin in their home during the service rather than disrupting the family unit.
A Story of Success from Clients of
Intact Family Services
Mark was injured at work and had been on leave for months. Nicki quit nursing school and picked up a second job in order to cover the bills and provide for their daughter, Julia. The household mood was tense. One night, Julia walked in on another loud argument. Mark pushed Nicki out of the way as he stormed out of the house. Nicki fell onto Julia.
A few days later, Julia's teacher noticed heavy bruising on her arm. After talking with her, the teacher learned what had happened called a case worker she knew at the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services. The case worker contacted Nicki, who acknowledged that their family was going through a difficult time and could use extra support. DCFS made a referral to the Intact Family Services program at Bethany to provide the necessary services and interventions to support the family and enable them to remain together.
The Intact Case Manager met with the family in their home on a weekly basis to build rapport, help them identify their strengths and needs, and formulate a plan to address their needs in a collaborative manner. The case manager referred Mark to a Bethany therapist to address his anger issues. The couple was also connected with professional marital counseling to improve their communication skills and strengthen their relationship. The worker provided education on positive parenting skills and helped Mark and Nicki understand how their fighting impacted Julia. Julia also participated in counseling to provide her with an outlet for her feelings and to learn ways to cope.
With guidance from their Intact Case Manager, Mark and Nicki were able to create a household environment that prioritized activities to strengthen their family bonds. They were successfully discharged from services six months later and reported that they felt empowered and optimistic to meet the needs of their family.