Intensive-Family Preservation

IFP home visitors are trained mental health providers. They provide brief intervention to reduce immediate safety concerns, the risk of future abuse and/or neglect, and the need for out-of-home placement. Key components of the program include safety assessments, parenting skills, community support, and clinical case management.

We offer parenting support, skills, training, and resources for parents and guardians to help them care for their children. We help families in a variety of other ways, including:

• Finding ways to nurture children while coping with life stress
• Preparing for the different stages of child development,
• Providing support with any special mental health, medical, or educational needs
• Accessing crisis stabilization support
• Assisting parents and guardians with housing or employment applications
• Providing connections to community resources for additional support

• Age range: Parents and caregivers of children birth to 17 years old
• Service area: DCF Region 2 (Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Seymour, Shelton, West Haven, Woodbridge)
• Service type: In-home intervention
• Areas of concern: Safety and risk, with child protective services involvement
• Services provided: Assessment of family's needs, school consultation, parenting guidance and support, multi-systems collaboration and coordination, safety planning, connections to services and community supports, time limited psychotherapy as needed, crisis response
• Program duration: 4-6 months

Referrals are required through the Department of Children and Families.