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Direct Family Interventions
Direct Family Intervention is a comprehensive service designed to provide needed intervention(s) to improve the overall function and well-being of a family. The program offers various types of resources and support to address a range of challenging life circumstances and family situations.
Families are generally involved with the DFI program for a duration of approximately six to 12 weeks. The assistance offered is based upon the individualized needs and the unique circumstances of each family. Your Bethany case manager will meet with you at least once a week to support and monitor progress and improvement in presenting concerns.
Services Provided by Direct Family Interventions
Direct Family Interventions provides a variety of support to at-risk families. Case managers provide therapeutic services to address:
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Parenting skills;
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Social skills;
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Problem-solving skills;
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Behavior management;
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Communication skills;
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Life skills (budgeting, cleaning, cooking);
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Anger management; and
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Relationship problems.
Cost of Direct Family Interventions
Direct Family Interventions is available at no cost to families who live in Scott county in Iowa.
Referring Families to Direct Family Interventions
The family may contact Bethany for Family & Children directly, or referrals may be made by a teacher, counselor, physician, Juvenile Court officers, Iowa Department of Human Services, or any individual with concerns for a child's well-being.
A Story of Success from Clients of
Direct Family Interventions
Removed from the home of their abusive biological parents, McKenzie and Molly were 4 and 6 years old when they were placed in foster care with Rose, who later adopted them. Seven years later, Rose died after a battle with cancer. At ages 11 and 13, suffering from the grief of losing their mother and witnessing the dramatic decline in her health, the girls began to present significant behavioral problems and were struggling at home and school.
The girls moved in with Rose’s sister, but after just a few weeks she asked their great aunt Cindy to take over. Cindy moved to town to care for them. In addition to their grief, the girls felt rejected, abandoned, and afraid. Cindy questioned whether she could parent them. She was consumed with doubt and dismay.
Kit, the Direct Family Interventions case manager, taught Cindy to adjust her parenting practices to include the impact of the girls’ traumatic life experiences. Kit taught the sisters coping skills and encouraged them to express themselves in a healthy manner. Together, the family received counseling to define family roles and to establish positive attachments to each other.
The family received specialized grief services. The sisters started formal mental health treatment and began medications to help alleviate some of the symptoms they experienced.
Over six months in the Direct Family Interventions Program, Cindy learned how trauma had impacted the girls, how to better communicate, and to set effective boundaries. The sisters shared their thoughts and feelings and accepted that Cindy was committed to their new family. The family’s stability has improved and both children are doing well academically and are no longer disruptive in school.