FamiliesSA (GA882)

Family and Youth Services of the Department of Human Services was established in 1998. It was renamed Children, Youth and Family Services on 1 July 2004, when it became part of the new Department for Families and Communities, upon the abolition of the Department of Human Services. On 1 May 2006 Children, Youth and Family Services was renamed Families SA.

In October 2011 the Department for Families and Communities was abolished and Families SA was brought together with the education and child development functions of the new Department for Education and Child Development. However, the Youth Justice Directorate was separated at that time from Families SA and transferred to the new Department for Communities and Social Inclusion. The Youth Justice Directorate was responsible for providing assistance to children and young people who have offended to positively re-engage with their communities. This includes the provision of restitution, secure care and restrictive community placements, programs for reducing the risk of offending, and counselling, support, and training.

The Anti-Poverty program, which was the largest provider of financial counselling services in South Australia, was abolished on 30 June 2011. Trained financial counsellors operated at all major offices and provided free confidential advice as well as helping people to work out suitable budgets and debt repayment schemes with their creditors. Local offices also provided emergency assistance and concessions. Financial assistance was provided for the cremation of people with no residual means. The Financial Counselling and Support Program was implemented from 1 July 2011. This program provided financial counselling and financial services to internal clients only, ie child protection cases, guardianship cases (both children and relative or foster carer families), post care cases, and Youth Justice cases.

From 1 July 2012, the Emergency Management responsibilities associated with the coordination and provision of services in State emergency situations such as flood, fire, accidents and explosions, where community and individual assistance is required, were transferred from the Corporate Services Directorate to the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

In 2007, the Post Care social work program was established to support adults who, as children, were placed in alternative care arrangements. Approval was given in February 2012 to transition the program from the Corporate Services Directorate to an organisation that was independent of church or government affiliation, and the transition took effect from 1 July 2012.

As at 2012, Families SA had the responsibility for:

- Support families going through difficult times and help them care for their children through initiatives such as parent support groups, counselling, and by running education campaigns about family violence and child abuse.

- Provide services for children and young people that enable them to find safety within their family and cultural environments, and assist children, young people and families to recover from harm, be safe, and nurtured to reach their potential. Local offices investigate serious child abuse allegations, provide alternative accommodation with foster families and offer occasional care to parents with disabled children. Case management services are provided for children or young people who have been made wards of the state and come under what is known as "the guardianship of the Minister".

- Improve outcomes for Aboriginal communities by focussing on the delivery of services and special programs in ways that enhance their community strengths.

- Provide grants to community organisations and charities annually. These include neighbourhood houses, community centres and advocacy agencies.

- Provide adoption services and offer people separated by adoption the opportunity to obtain or deny information about their background. This includes special services for Aboriginal people.

The Department for Child Protection was formed in November 2016 in response to recommendations from the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, led by the Honourable Margaret Nyland AM.