Family Connections Pilot

The Family Connections Pilot is the first Australian—and indeed, non-USA—trial of the Family Connections approach. Family Connections is an evidence-based social work program that has been developed and tested over more than 25 years in the USA across multiple jurisdictions. It uses a strengths-based, systems orientated approach to build family capacities to keep children well and safe; to reduce the removal of children at high risk of child protection involvement; and to increase the informal and formal support system for the family. There is strong emphasis on working with families experiencing severe disadvantage, complex challenges, and who are at high risk of escalating child protection involvement.

Micah Projects is currently delivering the Family Connections program across two sites: Brisbane and Caboolture. Micah Projects began receiving referrals in January 2025 and commenced delivering the program to families in February 2025. To be eligible for the program, families must: a) reside in the catchment area; b) be pregnant or have at least one child aged from birth to 18 years who resides in the home; and c) have at least one risk element, such as housing precarity, substance use, or mental health concern.

Throughout the Family Connections Pilot, UQ is following the refinement and testing of the approach to assess whether the effectiveness of the Pilot and provide recommendations for further refinement and broader implementation for the Queensland (Australian) context. the research team are employing a mixed methods approach, drawing on: administrative data, including referrals and case notes; interviews with staff, families, and referrers; ethnographic observations of staff training, coaching, and service delivery; and document analysis of advisory committee meeting minutes, the Micah Projects Family Connections manual, and other materials developed as part of the Pilot.