Sandwell Asian Family Support Service (SAFSS) initially began as a research project commissioned by Sandwell Social Services, in which the research was originally collated by Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 1986. The brief being: "to investigate the families in relation to the services provided by Health, Education and Social Services Departments". The research identified that there was a poor take up of benefits and mainstream services, little knowledge of specific disabilities, lack of adequate housing and few or no skills in written or spoken English. Consequently, Invalid Children's Aid Nationwide (ICAN) set up and supervised a centre for Asian families with children who had disabilities. ICAN had 100 years of experience surrounding offering services to children with disabilities, therefore SAFSS used this knowledge to develop their own children's domiciliary service and family support group.
The Evolution of SAFS
1986 - 1990
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children
1990 - 1993
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children
- Welfare Benefits Advice
- Reviews & Appeals
1993 - 1995
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children
- Welfare Benefits Advice
- Reviews & Appeals
- Parents & Carers Support Group
1995 - 1999
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children & adults
- Welfare Benefits Advice
- Reviews & Appeals
- Parents & Carers Support Group
- Care in community for adults
1999 - 2006
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children & adults
- Welfare Benefits Advice
- Reviews & Appeals
- Parents & Carers Support Group
- Care in community for adults
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children & adults
- PA Support - 2008 Personal Budgets
2006 - 2012
- Family Support
- Domiciliary Care Service for children & adults
- PA Support - 2008 Personal Budgets
- HMRC/Welfare Benefits Advice
- Parents & Carers Support Group
- Out of School Club
- Youth Group
- Flexible Short Breaks for Carers
2012 - present
- Family Support/Early Intervention
- Domiciliary Care Service and PA Support for children & adults
- Lifestyles Service for adults in the community/centre
- Parents & Carers Support Group
- Out of School Club (after school club and Saturday club)
- Flexible Short Breaks/Early Intervention for Carers
- Navigation and support to BAME Carers
