At St. Anthony’s we are very aware of the need to tackle the plight of abused and vulnerable children at the grass roots level. We know that PREVENTION is always better than seeking a cure and so we want to assist children and families before the Department for Social Development have to intervene.

We are eager to transform our work from being purely caring for children in a residential centre, to reaching out to our communities and assisting families to care for their children there. Removing a child from their family, their home, their school and community can cause more difficulties than it seeks to solve. Therefore, we want to develop a strategy for preserving families and preventing the removal of children, so that children no longer have to grow up in an ‘institution’.

Family Preservation can take place in two different scenarios; either involving families whose children are in residence, or families whose children are still staying with them. In both situations the services rendered are the same and the aim is the same; to PRESERVE families so that children live in safe, happy family environments.
Outlined below are the key steps and activities involved in our Family Preservation Programme: