Supporting children and responding to their families: Capturing the evidence on family support

Responding to vulnerable families through early intervention and family support is advocated as vital to children's well-being and interrupting patterns of maltreatment. This paper documents selected findings from a study of client outcomes from participation in family support services delivered through a network of Family Centres. Following a prospective sample of families interventions were monitored over six months using a pre- and post-test design incorporating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the methodology. Data from personal interviews with caseworkers, parents and children are analysed to profile family need and change in the domains of child well-being, family safety, family interactions, parental capabilities and environment. The implications for policy and practice discussed emphasise assessments and interventions that are multidimensional and the potentially valuable contribution of families and children to research and service planning.