When Methodist minister Thomas Bowman Stephenson saw children living rough under the arches of Waterloo station in London, he decided he had to act. And his first action was to listen.
He paid children the respect of hearing their stories, before working out the most practical way to help.
A century and a half later, the spirit of our founder remains our inspiration. We take action on behalf of 301,000 children, young people, parents and carers across the UK. Our mission is to do what's right, do what's needed, and do what works for children.
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Services Offered
Parents and Families
Our services range from: children and family centres through to early help community hubs or short breaks for disabled children. Targeted services such as intensive family support, youth justice, employability and much more - all supported by evidence-based programmes.
Evidence Based Programmes
Each evidence-based programme focuses on a particular area and takes into account the individual needs of children and parents. There is a programme for every child, from the first year into the teens and looking to adulthood beyond.
We have led the way in adopting evidence-based programmes. Our highly trained staff can deliver a range of different programmes, including: - Functional Family Therapy (FFT) - Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) - Roots of Empathy (ROE) - Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) - Parenting programmes, including Incredible Years and Triple P
We're also developing our own evidence-based programme, Family Partners.
Functional Family Therapy (FFT)
A well-established therapy intervention for the treatment of violent, criminal, behavioural, school and conduct problems with young people and their families.
FFT targets the family relational system as the entry point and primary target for systematic and individualised treatment.
Children's Mental Health
There's lots of changes in the behaviour in young people as they grow up. While many of these come with the territory of teenage life, altogether, they could be pointing to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. If your child is showing these signs they will need further support with the help of your GP or local support services.
Fees and Payment
Action for Children is a charity and a company limited by guarantee.
Services Offered To: Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.