At One Future, we are dedicated to partnering with Out-of-Home Care agencies to ensure children and young people remain connected to their family, kin, and culture. We understand that meaningful, lifelong connections with family and community are critical for the emotional, cultural, and social development of children in care. By working together, we can help foster a sense of belonging, identity, and resilience in these children, aligning with best practices in OOHC.
The Importance of Family and Kin Connections
For children and young people in care, the relationships they maintain with parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family offer much more than emotional support. These connections are a cornerstone of relational, cultural, and physical permanency, which are vital for their long-term well-being.
Family connections help children:
Develop a sense of belonging and emotional security.
Build pride in their cultural identity and heritage.
Understand their life story and process their experiences.
Heal from trauma and loss through nurturing attachments.
Gain resilience through enduring relationships that provide lifelong support.
As one young person in care expressed, "Even though people may tell you there’s nobody there for you, you’ve still got family and people who care."
How One Future Can Help
At One Future, we work closely with OOHC agencies to identify, nurture, and maintain family and kin connections for children and young people in care. We understand that caseworkers have competing demands on their time, and often, despite their best efforts, do not have the time to complete thorough family finding. Here’s how we support this vital work:
Developing Family Networks
We assist agencies in identifying family members and kin who may not yet be connected to the child.
Developing genograms, consultations with extended family through relationship-based practices, we ensure all potential connections are explored.
Facilitating Family Group Conferences (FGCs)
FGCs bring families together to collaborate on plans that support the child’s needs and best interests. This process fosters open communication, cultural inclusivity, and long-term planning.
Promoting Cultural Permanency
For Aboriginal children and others from collective cultures, maintaining cultural ties is paramount. We guide agencies in working with families to ensure children remain connected to their culture, community, and traditions.
Supporting Carers
Carers are often at the forefront of maintaining family connections. We provide training and resources to help carers understand the value of these relationships and how to support them effectively. This is often critical to maintaining lifelong connections for children in care.
Overcoming Challenges
Many barriers, such as mistrust, trauma, or missing information, can complicate family connection efforts. We offer strategies, independent consultants and reflective practices to navigate these challenges with sensitivity and determination offering agencies solutions and mediating where relationships may have broken down.
Benefits of Strong Family Connections
When children in OOHC are connected to their family and kin, they experience numerous benefits, including:
A stronger sense of identity and self-worth.
Improved emotional and social outcomes.
Reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Better preparation for transitions, such as restoration or leaving care.
As one caseworker noted, "Kids need a sense of identity and belonging that can only come from the people who love them most, and this is usually their family."
Best Practices in Action
One Future aligns its work with evidence-based practices, including:
Listening to the voice of the child: Ensuring their perspectives guide decision-making.
Continuous connection-building: Maintaining efforts to develop networks throughout the child’s time in care.
Culturally safe practices: Respecting and prioritizing the child’s cultural heritage in all actions.
To learn more about how One Future can support your agency or to discuss our training and consultation services. Let’s work together to ensure every child feels loved, supported, and connected.
