Family Response Services - Hennepin County Human Services - Social Services

Hennepin County works with community agencies to deliver the Family Response service. Family Response can help, with immediate, in-person support and stabilization for children, youth, and their parents/caregivers. The model's goal is to reduce hospitalizations and other out-of-home placements by providing families with immediate, upstream support.

There are no specific criteria required to initiate services, but concerns may include children and youth who are:

- Experiencing worry and concern

- Feeling down or less engaged

- Having a hard time with a family member or change in the home

- Having issues at school

- Showing aggression or anger

When a call is made to Family Response, staff will gather basic information and send a family response team to the family's location within one hour. The Family Response team will:

- De-escalate and address the immediate concern

- Engage and support the family over the next 72 hours

- Connect families to support, including an optional 8-week stabilization service. Stabilization services can provide healthy, safe behaviors, and help the child manage their daily activities.