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ItemNo Preview AvailableInfant Access Program Evaluation( 2022-03-30)This project was commissioned by the Eastern Health Foundation to evaluate the implementation of the ‘Infant Access Program’ (IAP). The IAP seeks to improve access to specialist infant mental health services for children aged 0-5 years with mental health difficulties in the Maroondah City and Yarra Ranges local government areas. This report provides an overview of the evaluation method, key findings, and recommendations for future IAP research and program development to build the evidence base in infant mental health service provision. The program evaluation project used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the implementation of the Infant Access Program (IAP). The aims of the project were: - To identify existing models and programs designed to improve access to mental health services for children aged 0-5 years that have been implemented nationally and internationally in health and mental health sectors. - To evaluate if the IAP facilitates access to mental health services for children aged 0-5 years with mental health difficulties and their families. - To assess if the IAP is delivering mental health services to the target population: children at-risk of mental health difficulties. - To understand the experiences of clinicians who implemented the IAP. Findings: Despite the lack of specific research on this topic, the scoping review identified several broad themes for IAP to consider: (1) accessibility for at-risk populations (2) the importance of early detection of infants in need of mental health services and interventions; (3) the promotion of culturally responsive services and interventions; (4) ensuring the sustainability of IMH services and programs; and (5) the integration of innovative interventions to improve existing practice models. A total of ten participants (CYMHS clinicians and EMCH nurses) consented into this evaluation. The participants provided mental health and nursing services to three local government areas in the Melbourne’s eastern region. During the implementation period (May – October 2021), two CYMHS clinicians and four EMCH nurses collected IAP activity data related to thirteen infants and young children and their families who were consulted or referred to the program. Following the Infant Access Program Evaluation implementation period, semi-structured qualitative focus groups were conducted with the ten CYMHS clinicians and EMCH nurses to gain an understanding of their experiences of implementing the IAP in practice. The analysis of the IAP activity data and focus group discussions demonstrate that the IAP does facilitate access to mental health services for children aged 0-5 years with mental health difficulties and their families. Access to specialist mental health support for most children and families was rapid, with most children meeting the CYMHS clinician at a first joint home visit only 14 days after the initial consultation with the EMCH nurse. This rapid response demonstrates the IAP is nimble and flexible in offering infant mental health services in a time sensitive manner. The program received referrals for infant mental health services for its intended target population: infants and children and their families experiencing known risk factors for poor mental health outcomes. Families with a range of complex psychosocial risk factors can often experience significant challenges in accessing specialist services such as infant mental health intervention for their child despite having concerns about their social and emotional development. The IAP managed the initial engagement with families by leveraging the existing relationship the family had with the EMCH nurse, however, there were challenges with maintaining engagement and delivering mental health interventions. Although the initial access to the IAP is a strength of the current design, further consideration is needed as to the ways in which to meaningfully engage with families of infants and children with mental health difficulties that are acceptable and sustainable. The IAP had the full support of all the CYMHS clinicians and EMCH nurses who were involved during the implementation phase of this evaluation. The experience of clinicians and nurses working in partnership, bringing skills sets of mental health clinicians and maternal child health together was considered a strength of the IAP design. The access and rapid response from the CYMHS clinicians to consult and meet with the families was also valued. This ensured a timely response to the needs of infants and children with mental health difficulties and capitalised on the readiness and willingness of families to engage with mental health services. The clinicians and nurses recognised the challenges of working with a population that is at-risk in our community. Establishing trust with the families was identified as the key to successful engagement with IAP. Creative ways of engaging families were also important, offering choice for when and where to meet the IAP clinician.
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ItemSeeking Safety: Aboriginal Child Protection Diversion Trials Evaluation Final Report(University of Melbourne, 2022-12-16)Victorian Aboriginal children are currently 17 times more likely to be in out-of-home care compared to non-Aboriginal children. This is because Aboriginal children are more likely than non-Aboriginal children to be reported to Child Protection, and because Child Protection cases involving Aboriginal children are more likely to progress to Court and out of-home care after a decision has been made that a child needs protection. Aboriginal families and communities are disproportionally affected by traumatic experiences and their associated negative consequences, including unemployment, educational disadvantage, poverty, homelessness, and intergenerational trauma. This puts Aboriginal children at greater risk of adverse childhood experiences and for being reported to Child Protection. Visibility to mandatory reporters and implicit bias in the decisions of mandatory reporters may also contribute to differences in Child Protection reports. Aboriginal people also under utilise mainstream prevention and early intervention services, and avoid working with social service professionals, due to fear of child protection intervention or because mainstream services do not meet their cultural needs.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableInterventions for women who use force in a family context: an Australian Practice Framework( 2021)This Practice Framework isdesigned as a brief guide for practitioners and program designers to the principles and intervention style deemed essential for working with this population. It is best read in the context of a program curriculum such as the Positive Shift Curriculum or the University of Melbourne research reports on this topic. The framework is based on a research program about women who use force in a family context, which has included academic researchers from the University of Melbourne and Curtin University and service providers and users (Baptcare and Berry Street).
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ItemWomen who use force: Final Report. Volume 1 – Executive Summary, Positive Shift Program, Evaluation of Positive Shift, and Practice Framework.(University of Melbourne and Curtin University, 2020)This is the final report (3 volumes) of a research program that has developed the Australian knowledge base about women who use force in a family context, and appropriate service responses. The research was funded by the Department of Social Services. Volume 1 contains a practice framework for intervening with this population, a description and evaluation of +SHIFT (a group work and case management program for women who use force) and the executive summary.
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ItemMore questions than answers: a focus on reunification for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, in The Family Matters Report 2020(SNAICC, 2020-11-16)The disproportionate rate of entry into out-of-home care (OOHC) is well documented for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth throughout Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2020a; Lewis et al 2019). However, less is known about children and youth who exit out-of-home care by returning to the care of their parents or former carers. This special report reviews the literature, and the publicly available data for 2018-19, about reunification for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children in out-of-home care systems. It was found that in 2018-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were less likely to have case plans that included reunification as a possibility compared to non-Indigenous children, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were also less likely to be reunified with family compared to non-Indigenous children. Reunification rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were highest in Victoria, however, entry to care rates were also highest in Victoria compared to other states and territories. Except for the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia, once reunified, there was no marked difference between rates of re-entry to care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children compared to non-Indigenous children. Examination of differences in reunification patterns across states and territories were also limited by the low numbers of children reunified in some states and territories (such as the Northern Territory), as well as absent data from New South Wales and Queensland. Ultimately, questions concerning reunification casework practices across the nation remain, while reunification data from 2018-19 has generated more questions than answers.