Dial Help

Dial Help’s family support services assists families with children either living at home or returning from out-of-home placement, or those families with difficult post-adoption adjustments. Our home-based model offers parents an opportunity to work with a Dial Help Practitioner in their own home environment. The practioner offers parents support, education and advocacy, along with skill-based programs that are individualized to fit each family’s expressed needs.

This education and encouragement delivered through an on-going relationship with a trained and trusted mentor is the most effective means of developing protective factors and empowering parents.

According to the family’s needs, practitioners will assist in areas of:

Home management including: housekeeping, budgeting, nutrition and meal preparation.
Parent effectiveness including: clear expectations and limits; skills to encourage and empower children to make healthy choices.

Communication skills including: anger management; peaceful conflict resolution; effective communication with child’s school.
Community resources including: housing; education; employment; medical and mental health services; transportation; services for special needs populations.
Family activities and recreation including: Dial Help sponsored 4H group; Challenge and Discovery group activities such as camping, kayaking, rock climbing, white-water rafting, snow sports, swimming and games at the gym as well as community service projects.

The best practice elements of Dial Help’s family support programs include:

Establishment of an alliance based on respect between the Family Practitioner and family members.
Assessment of family strengths and problem relationships with emphasis on parental figures’ ability to affect children’s behaviors.
Development of a change strategy to capitalize on strengths and increase family competence.
Education and support to assist family members toward implementing change and sustaining new levels of competence.

Common outcomes include:

• Increased social and community support

• Improved family function and communication

• Enhanced job and school performance

• Improved parenting skills

• Reduced out-of-home placements, child abuse and neglect

Dial Help Serves Families Referred for Family Support Services in One of the Following Programs:
HOMEBUILDERS EXTENDED – A moderate intervention program either for families completing the intensive Homebuilders program, or any other families enrolled directly in this program. Open to referrals from all sources including self-referral. Funded by the WUPSASCA prevention contract.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How do I arrange for home-based services?

A. Call Dial Help and request Family Support Services. Referring agencies may also call direct. Individuals may self-refer or ask their physician, therapist, probation officer, social worker, school counselor, lawyer or others to assist them in requesting services.

Q. How are the home visitors trained?

A. All Family Support Practitioners hold a minimum bachelor’s degree. In addition, they are certified by the Homebuilders Program after completion of Homebuilders training. Homebuilders is one of the best documented, science-based, intensive family preservation programs in the country. Practitioners also attend additional trainings, conferences and regular Dial Help in-service/continuing education.

Q. Are Family Support Services confidential?

A. All services are confidential and comply with the standards for confidentiality as stated in the Michigan Mental Health Code. Parents may sign formal Releases of Information which will allow our Practitioners to access resources on the parents’ behalf, and/or speak to or attend meetings with teachers, social workers and others. Without a detailed, signed release of information, Dial Help Staff cannot even acknowledge the family’s participation in the program.

Q. Are there charges for family activities?

A. Family activities are provided at no charge but are limited by availability of funds, depending on grants and Dial Help fundraising efforts.