Family Stability and Child Well-Being Services 

Family Preservation programs that help DCS-referred families build safe, stable homes and support children’s long-term well-being. 

What Are Family Stability and Child Well-Being Services?

Family Stability and Child Well-Being Services is a group of Catholic Charities programs that supports families involved with the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). These services are designed to help children remain safely at home whenever possible, support reunification when children have been removed, strengthen parenting skills, and address challenges that affect a family’s stability and well-being.

We walk alongside families with compassionate, practical support that helps create safer home environments, stronger daily routines, and healthier paths forward. This umbrella includes Nurturing Parenting, Family Connections, SENSE (Substance Exposed Newborn Safe Environment), and Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T.

We help families:

  • Create a safe and stable home environment 
  • Strengthen parenting skills and daily routines 
  • Address substance use and other challenges that put children at risk 
  • Work toward reunification when children have been removed 
  • Connect families to community resources and ongoing supports 
  • Enhance protective factors to ensure long-term family stability 

Who We Serve

These services are for families involved with DCS, including parents and caregivers working to build safe, stable homes for their children. Across programs, the focus is on helping families improve safety, strengthen parenting, address substance use when it is a factor, and move toward long-term stability. Services are delivered using a trauma-informed approach, with an emphasis on building protective factors, enhancing parent-child relationships, and increasing parents’ understanding of child development. All programs under this service umbrella require a DCS referral. 

Catholic Charities provides these services in Central and Northern Arizona, with program availability varying by region. The Family Stability and Child Well-Being umbrella reflects Catholic Charities’ broader work to strengthen and reunify families across Arizona. 

How Referrals Work

  • DCS identifies families who would benefit from additional support. 
  • DCS refers the parent or caregiver to the program that best fits the family’s needs. 
  • Catholic Charities engages with the family, begins services, and works in alignment with the family’s case plan. 
  • Support is often provided in the home and community, with hands-on guidance focused on safety, parenting, recovery, and stability. 

What Does Family Preservation Mean? 

Family Preservation means helping families build safer, stronger homes through practical, relationship-based support. Services are often provided in the home, where parents and caregivers can receive real-time coaching and encouragement as they work toward goals related to child safety, family stability, and reunification. 

Catholic Charities partners with DCS and, when appropriate, other providers involved in a family’s case to support progress through a trauma-informed, compassionate, and family-centered approach focused on lasting change. This approach reflects the agency’s mission of walking alongside vulnerable neighbors with solutions that permanently improve lives.  

Common support may include: 

Parenting education 
and coaching 

In-home 
safety planning 

Help establishing routines and structure 

Case management aligned
 with DCS case plans 

Substance use recovery coordination and referrals 

Connections to community resources and other
Catholic Charities services 

Crisis intervention and stabilization support 

Assistance with basic needs (housing, food, clothing, transportation) 

Support in navigating systems (court, DCS, schools, healthcare) 

Emotional support and stress management strategies 

Coordination with service providers and multidisciplinary teams

Preparation for reunification and transition planning

Family Preservation Programs 

Our Family Preservation services include several specialized programs. DCS refers parents and caregivers to the program that best fits their circumstances and goals

Nurturing Parenting 

Nurturing Parenting helps parents build positive parenting skills that support safe, healthy family relationships. The program focuses on strengthening attachment, improving communication, and helping caregivers develop age-appropriate expectations and nurturing discipline practices. DCS refers families to the program as part of their support plan.

Family Connections

Family Connections provides hands-on support for families who need help strengthening routines, managing stress, improving relationships, and building a safer home environment. Working closely with parents and caregivers, staff help families set goals, solve problems, and connect with resources that support child safety and stability.

SENSE (Substance Exposed Newborn Safe Environment) 

SENSE supports families with infants affected by prenatal substance exposure, with a focus on creating a safe, stable environment for the baby. Services are designed to support safety planning, caregiver stability, and healthy bonding during a critical stage of family life. This program will be available in Northern Arizona.

Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. (AFF)

Families in Recovery Succeeding Together 

Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. helps parents address substance use so they can safely care for their children and work toward family reunification when needed. Catholic Charities provides family-centered, coordinated care that may include assessment, treatment coordination, relapse management support, and connections to services such as transportation, housing assistance, parenting support, and other family resources.  

How These Services Help Families 

Family Stability and Child Well-Being Services are designed to improve safety and strengthen family life over time. Across programs, the goals are to improve child safety in the home, increase parenting confidence and skills, support recovery when substance use is involved, and help more children remain safely at home or reunify successfully with their families.

Families may experience outcomes such as:

Increased 
home safety 

Stronger parenting skills and confidence

More consistent routines 
and structure

Progress in recovery 
and stability 

Better connection to helpful 
services and supports

Greater opportunity for children to remain safely with family 
or return home safely 

Improved emotional regulation and stress management for caregivers 

Improved collaboration with DCS and service providers 

Progress toward permanency goals, including reunification when appropriate 

Where Services Are Available

Family Stability and Child Well-Being Services are available in Central and Northern Arizona, with services often delivered in the family’s home and community. Program availability varies by location. Nurturing Parenting and Family Connections are available in both Central and Northern Arizona, while SENSE and Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. are available in Northern Arizona only. 

How to Get Help or Make a Referral

Families already working with DCS can speak with their DCS case manager about a referral to Catholic Charities’ Family Stability and Child Well-Being Services. Because these programs are part of DCS-involved family support, enrollment begins through referral rather than direct public sign-up.

Support Family Stability and Child Well-Being

When families are facing crisis, support can mean the difference between instability and hope. Catholic Charities works to strengthen families, protect children, and help parents build safer, healthier futures. Through compassionate, trauma-informed, and family-centered services, we walk alongside families as they work toward lasting change. Support from the community helps make that mission possible. Catholic Charities also invites people to get involved through giving, volunteering, and prayer.