FEATURED PROGRAM FOR
APRIL 2003

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FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION

Administering Organization
International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis

Program Objectives and Unique Needs Addressed
Family Crisis Intervention aims to address urgent crisis situations as needs arise, through family empowerment, linkage to community resources, and counseling.

Program Description
Caseworkers and social workers involved in both direct services and case management refer families for crisis intervention. Intervention is tailored to address the unique individual situation and needs of each family. Intervention staff meet with the family during the immediate crisis, involving community resources for family support and assistance. Family crisis situations typically include intergenerational issues, child abuse and neglect, school issues, family violence, status violations, or other juvenile offenses. Interpreters are utilized and staff accompany clients through any community referral processes.

Groups Served by Program
Primary funding covers any refugee family in the U.S. less than five years. A small amount of United Way funding allows us to serve those here more than five years, and also immigrant families.

Program Funding
The program receives Targeted Assistance Formula funds (a state grant originating with the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement), and United Way supplemental funds.

Program Staffing and Required Staff Training
Program staff comprises seven caseworkers and one social worker.

Caseworkers are trained on the job. The social worker holds an MSW, with special coursework in family issues. All staff undergo continuing education, including special training in working with cases of child abuse and neglect, family acculturation issues, family violence, etc.

Defining Program Success
Traditional evaluative tools are difficult to administer to refugee clients. As indicators of success, staff use the duration of a crisis and intervention, the frequency of crisis situations, known behavior changes, and contacts with the legal system.

Program Outcomes
Staff worked with the St. Louis City Division of Family Services on 50 reported child abuse or neglect situations, assisted in obtaining 30 orders of protection, and secured psychiatric support in 15 mental health commitments.

Other Key Elements
Program staff have developed relationships with essential community providers to develop collaborations. Family Crisis Intervention also relies on training and knowledge within the general, mainstream service provider community on the effects of culture in family issues, and the important role ethnic communities play in refugee and immigrant families. The program works with public agencies including the St. Louis City Division of Family Services, juvenile court, and the St. Louis public school system, among others.

Program Contact
P. Ariel Burgess, MSW
International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis
3654 S. Grand
St. Louis, MO 63118

Program Dates
The program began in February 1997; it is still operating.

Learn about the International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis and its other programs.

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