Intensive Family Preservation

Omni proves Intensive Family Preservation (IFP) services in several areas of Nebraska. IFP is a team approach service that provides therapeutic and skill-building interventions within the home. Families referred may have severe mental health issues, abuse or neglect issues, or youth with serious emotional and behavioral disturbances. The major goal of this program is to prevent an out-of-home placement of the youth to reunify families and stabilize placement. Omni provides this service to preserve the family’s integrity and prevent unnecessary out-of-home placements, to put adolescents and their families in touch with community resources for long term outside support, and to strengthen the family’s coping skills and capacity to function effectively in the community after treatment is completed.

Where do the services happen?

Intensive Family Preservation therapists meet with the family in its environment which may include home, school, day care, and community. Crisis assistance through consultation and problem solving is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Who is included in the IFP team?

An Intensive Family Preservation team consists of an LMHP (Licensed Mental Health Practitioner) or PLMHP (Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner) and a Skill Builder with a Bachelor’s degree.

How are services implemented?

The initial weeks of IFP service comprises of evaluation and assessment of family strengths and needs, safety planning, and gathering information while building a working relationship with the family.  Middle weeks of service are for training, education, and coaching the individualized services.  The final weeks of service are for review of the material taught, developing community supports, working on any clinical issues, relapse prevention, planning to address future issues, and generalization of skills to the various social and civic circumstances the family will encounter in the future.

Availability

Intensive Family Preservation services are available through consultation and problem solving 24 hours per day, 7 days a week while the family is receiving services.

Frequency of visits

The IFP therapist and case manager will determine the frequency and duration of family visits. The focus is based on needs for therapeutic services.

Referrals

Intensive Family Preservation referrals come from the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services, the Office of Probation, or St. Francis Ministries. Referrals are made for abuse/neglect, family relationship problems, parenting skills, or issues arising under the jurisdiction of the Office of Juvenile Services (OJS) such as juvenile delinquency, truancy, etc. IFP can be referred to assist foster families and biological families. Families referred for IFP are at significant risk for having children removed from the home due to neglect or abuse, and frequently are experiencing problems and challenges to family unity or reunification after separation.