May 16, 2013 • Leave a comment
In this paper we present and discuss a snapshot of data describing child protection activity in Australia. The data presented is a summary of the data provided in Child Protection Australia 2011-2012.
In Australia, state and territory governments have the statutory responsibility for protecting children from child abuse and neglect. This fragmented system can result in some children “falling through the cracks”. This recognition has seen the development of a National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020. The Framework provides a shared approach with national leadership and clearly stated “child protection is everybody’s business”. This is a move from the tertiary response-driven system that has existed in the past to a public health model with a focus on universal support for all families and more intensive, or targeted responses for families that need additional support…
May 16, 2013 • 2 comments
Throughout May we’ve focussed on intensive home-based family support – and now we want to hear from you.
We’re keen to hear about your specific professional needs and concerns so that we can address these in forthcoming CFCA resources, including the webinar on 21 May.
We invite you to share your experiences, issues and questions in the comments section below. This is an open conversation to help us learn from each other, using the CFCA resources as a guide. To refresh your memory, here’s what we’ve released so far this month…
May 16, 2013 • Leave a comment
The National Families Week theme for 2013 draws attention to the sometimes difficult task of achieving balance in our lives. Achieving balance can be helped by working together in our immediate and extended families, as well as with friends, neighbours and the wider community.
One of the pressing challenges today is finding the balance between the hours spent in paid work and the time spent with family and friends, in community activities, and looking after our own health and wellbeing. This facts sheet highlights some of the ways in which such time commitments vary over the life course, and how families manage these and other competing demands on their time. It draws on a range of Australian data to highlight some current trends…
May 16, 2013 • Leave a comment
This paper provides a theoretical basis to using a systems approach to working with vulnerable and high-risk families where children’s needs are generally being met, but where parenting is at times not “good enough” or even unsafe.
Practical tools to aid the implementation of a systems approach to intensive home based support for these families are provided in three accompanying practice resources. These resources (developed by Marie Iannos and Greg Antcliff, 2013) provide some guidance in the use of motivational interviewing, planning for safety with at-risk families and parent skills training:
May 14, 2013 • Leave a comment
Practitioners of intensive family support programs may frequently encounter parents who present as ambivalent and “resistant” to engaging with the service. Motivating parents to make the necessary changes required to increase safety and to provide an adequate standard of care for their children therefore poses a challenging task for workers. This paper explores the application of motivational interviewing principles (Miller & Rollnick, 2004) as a promising approach that family support workers may apply to engage, motivate and support parents to enhance the safety and wellbeing of their children.
The goal of intensive home-based support programs for vulnerable families is ensuring that children stay safe and remain within their family, and aim to reduce re-notification or re-substantiation risk…
May 8, 2013 • Leave a comment
The role of practitioners in intensive family support programs, which focus on keeping children safe in a “risky” environment, is complex and multifaceted. One important aspect of the worker’s role is to assist parents develop the practical skills and knowledge required to meet their children’s basic safety needs. This resource will present the evidence-based principles of parent skills training, which could be applied to support parents develop any child care or home care skill.
Vulnerable families at risk of abuse or neglect, or with substantiated abuse/neglect, have complex issues and needs. A range of intensive, home-based family support programs exist which primarily receive referrals from statutory child protection services…
May 1, 2013 • Leave a comment
Developing and implementing a meaningful safety plan is a collaborative process undertaken by the worker and family together to address immediate safety issues and set goals for the intervention.
This resource guide describes practical tips to assist family support workers develop and implement a safety plan with their clients, and draws upon the principles from the Signs of Safety practice framework (Department for Child Protection, 2011; Turnell, 2012) and evidence based practices for working with families at risk of abuse and neglect (De Panfillis, 2006).
Developing a meaningful safety plan is a collaborative process undertaken by the family and worker together and focuses on a fundamental question: what needs to happen to ensure the children will be safe in their own family?…
May 1, 2013 • Leave a comment
Intensive home-based family support is an approach to child and family welfare that aims to support highly vulnerable children and families in their own homes. It is a holistic response to child safety concerns, designed to prevent the unnecessary placement of children in alternative care, and to reunify and support families while preserving family connections.
Intensive home-based support is underpinned by the idea that, whenever possible, it is best for children to be raised in their own families; out-of-home care placements should be made only as a last resort.
Families referred to intensive home-based family support programs often have multiple issues and complex needs…
April 23, 2013 • Leave a comment
Written by Margaret Kertesz1
Records are a key source of information for adults who grew up in out-of-home care. Many want to know why they were placed in care, and the reasons why any placements were changed. Care leavers have spoken eloquently about how records have helped them understand their childhoods and develop a positive sense of self.
The Who am I? project (2009-12)2 investigated contemporary recording practices for Victorian children in out-of-home care. The research was a collaboration between university-based researchers, community sector organisations, government and consumer groups…
April 16, 2013 • Leave a comment
Written by Penelope Rush1
The Impact – Australia: Investment for social and economic benefit report is the first comprehensive look at the growth of impact investment in Australia. The report was released in early April 2013 by the Australian Government and highlights both the need and the possibility in Australia to drive more investment into communities.
The distinguishing feature of impact investment is the intention to achieve a positive social, cultural and/or environmental benefit alongside measures of financial return. Lessons for impact investing can be drawn from fields such as infrastructure, venture capital, private equity, microfinance, corporate social responsibility and responsible investment…
