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Australian Red Cross Young Parents Program

Australian Red Cross Young Parents Program. Presented by Anne King & Sophie Mackey. Young Parents Program. Established in Randwick in 1993 Formerly called: Glen Mervyn Young Women’s Health Program. Young Parents Program. Funded by NSW Community Services & NSW Health

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Australian Red Cross Young Parents Program

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  1. Australian Red CrossYoung Parents Program

  2. Presented by Anne King & Sophie Mackey

  3. Young Parents Program Established in Randwick in 1993 Formerly called: • Glen Mervyn • Young Women’s Health Program

  4. Young Parents Program Funded by NSW Community Services & NSW Health Accredited OOHC provider with Office of Children’s Guardian

  5. Responding to identified need Young parents have often experienced • abuse and neglect • poor health • unstable/unsafe home environment • homelessness • exposure to drug abuse and crime • mental health and behavioural problems • disengagement from education • limited or no social support

  6. Responding to identified need Children of adolescent parents at greater risk of: • socio-economic disadvantage • being taken into statutory/foster care • homelessness • poor health and childhood fatality • behavioural problems • poor academic performance • becoming teenage parents themselves

  7. Young Parents Program Young Parents Program aims to: • Reduce incidence of child abuse and neglect • Provide opportunities for young parents without skills and support to parent effectively • Facilitate family preservation • Reduce moves in care • Improve the safety and wellbeing of Australian children • Break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage

  8. Young Parents Program Program model: • Residential • Outreach • Aftercare • Education • Parentcraft • Volunteer support

  9. Conceptual framework

  10. Conceptual framework • Child protection • Child focussed • Family centred • Strengths based • Client driven • Appropriate role modeling • Therapeutic environment

  11. Conceptual framework • Holistic • Non-deficit • Planned and intentional • Least intrusive • Staged, flexible and long term

  12. Conceptual framework • Reflective work practice • Multi-skilled, multi-disciplined team • Integrated service delivery • Partnerships and interagency relationships • Creating a community hub

  13. Conceptual framework Therapeutic models: • Bonding and Attachment • Child and Adolescent Development • Strengths Based Theory • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy • “Social Capital” Theory • Motivational Interviewing • Self Monitoring and Evaluation

  14. Young Parents Program

  15. Residential

  16. Young Parents Program - Residential • Intensive support for young mums under 19 • 24 hour supported accommodation • Case management • Most vulnerable/at risk • Statutory clients/restorations • Guided by OOHC guidelines and placement principles

  17. Young Parents Program - Residential

  18. Young Parents Program - Residential

  19. Outreach

  20. Outreach • Single parents and couples aged 16 to 25 • Medium term housing • Case management • Home visiting • Participation in groups • Focus on developing increased independence & living skills

  21. Outreach

  22. Aftercare

  23. Aftercare • Support and referrals for parents up to age 25 • Social network • Client driven • Aimed at maintaining independence

  24. Aftercare

  25. Education

  26. Education • Weekly study groups • Facilitated by Education Officer • Supported by volunteer tutors • Child minding provided • Remedial and certificate courses • Linked with generic services eg TAFE, libraries, schools, universities

  27. Education “I left school when I was 13. I now realise that the kids that stayed at school have a better education than I do.” “The program has helped me heaps to recognise my strengths.”

  28. Education

  29. Parentcraft

  30. Parentcraft • Parenting education groups • Tot spot • Play group • Parenting workbooks • Intensive parenting support • Staff education

  31. Volunteering

  32. Volunteering • Trained volunteers • Community engagement andsocial responsibility • Role modeling and mentoring • Integral to success of program • Builds service capacity • 90% volunteer retention rate

  33. Volunteering Over 80 volunteers: • Childminders • Tutors • Mentors • Driving buddies • Yoga and fitness trainers • Baby masseuse • Swimming instructor

  34. Key challenges

  35. Key challenges • Holisitic nature of service • Working with risk • Housing • Working effectively with Indigenous families • Engaging young men

  36. Key challenges Balancing act: • Flexibility vs structure • Parent needs vs child needs • Maintaining trust and relationships while having honest and challenging conversations • Providing support without building reliance • Transparency with clients • Reflecting and learning as a worker

  37. Key challenges

  38. Evaluation

  39. Evaluation • Client feedback • Daily case notes • Monthly/quarterly case reviews • Individual & group supervisionfor staff • OCG quarterly audits • Research partnership withMacquarie University

  40. Dear Minister

  41. Young Parents Program – Dear Minister “I believe my experience of the program was life changing.” “I was really reserved and did not feel like opening up to anybody.” “I started to trust the people around me.”

  42. Young Parents Program – Dear Minister “This service is so important for young mothers and fathers who are serious about changing their way of life .” “It’s helped me be the best young mother I can be to my daughter…so she does have a good life like every kid should have.”

  43. Young Parents Program

  44. Questions

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