What to Expect When Contacting FOR Families
Q. Does FOR Families provide financial assistance?
A. If you are in need of financial assistance, staff can offer a consultation either by phone or in person in order to better assess your needs and provide referrals to agencies we believe might be able to assist you.
Q. Does FOR Families provide therapy?
A. FOR Families does not provide therapy. Staff refers participants to counseling agencies and maintains an in-house list of private therapist resources for referring program participants. These clinicians have been screened by FOR Families staff prior to being placed on the list.
Q. Do I need to have an appointment to meet with FOR Families?
A. Appointments are preferred to ensure staff availability. To make an appointment, email forfamilies@cityofirvine.org or call 949-724-6650. Email and phones are monitored during regular business hours, Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. For 24/7 assistance, please visit the 24/7 Hotlines page. For a 24-hour crisis line, please call National Suicide Prevention & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Q. How much do services cost?
A. FOR Families services are free for those living in the City of Irvine.
Q. What happens during a consultation and how long does it take?
A. An individual consultation traditionally takes approximately one hour, depending upon the issue. Staff will first assess your needs and will work with you to develop a customized action plan by providing you with relevant referrals to local community agencies.
Q. What will I be asked when calling for an appointment?
A. When calling for an appointment with FOR Families, staff will ask you to describe your concerns or needs in some detail in order to have a better idea of the type of resources that will be helpful when you come in for your consultation meeting.
Q. What happens after a consultation?
A. Participants are encouraged to follow up with FOR Families staff after making contact with the referrals provided to ensure that the resources were helpful. Otherwise, staff will contact you typically within one or two weeks after the consultation to assess any further needs and may provide additional resources.
Q. What resources are on your website?
A. Visit cityofirvine.org/forfamilies for a list of basic resources, including information on housing, mental health, substance abuse, family violence, health care, and more. Staff encourages participants to call for specific direction and information on accessing these resources and to discuss more comprehensive assistance options.
Q. How can I tell if I'm being abused?
A. Does the person you love:
- Threaten to hurt you or your children?
- Call you names or accuse you of having affairs?
- Throw you down, or push, hit, choke, kick, or slap you?
- Say it is your fault if he or she hits you, then promises it won't happen again?
- Demean you in public, or keep you from contacting your family or friends?
- Lose temper and destroy property?
- Force you to have sex when you don't want to?
Just one "yes" answer means you're likely involved in an abusive relationship. If so, you're not alone and you have choices. The City of Irvine FOR Families program is here to help. Call 949-724-6650 for direction and support.
