Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T19:47:19.288Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Strengthening Trauma-informed Therapeutic Practice Approaches in Out-of-home Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2014

Lynda Manley ,
Ruth Barr  and
Patricia McNamara
Lynda Manley*
Affiliation:
Baptcare Family and Community Services, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia
Ruth Barr
Affiliation:
Baptcare Family and Community Services, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia
Patricia McNamara
Affiliation:
La Trobe University Department of Social Work and Social Policy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Lynda Manley, Baptcare Family and Community Services, 25 Norwood Crescent, Moonee Ponds, Victoria 3039, Australia. E-mail address: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper provides a snapshot of early work undertaken to develop a trauma-informed complex case management and therapeutic practice model for kinship and foster care within a family and community services agency. The approach taken has initially involved supporting case workers and carers and working towards organisational cultural change. The shift in focus described arose from a concern that stability and healing goals were not well supported within the existing programmatic framework and practice approaches. Purposeful integration of theory with practice has been central to the change process. There is a clear rationale that working from a strong evidence base can create better outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care. The paper reflects on work in progress. Action taken to date has educated the workforce around trauma-informed responses, developed clear protocols and a set of practice tools. This has embedded a strong foundation for further development as resources become available.

Keywords

therapeutictraumaout-of-home carekinship carefoster carefamily welfare
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 39 , Issue 4: ATTACHMENT AND TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICE , December 2014 , pp. 216 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anda, R., Felittis, V., Bremner, J., Walker, J., Whitfeild, C., Perry, B., . . . Giles, W. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood: A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 256, 174–186.Google Scholar
Anglin, J. (2003). Pain, normality and the struggle for congruence: Reinterpreting residential care for children and youth. Philadelphia: Haworth Press.Google Scholar
Baptcare Research Unit, OzChild, & Anchor. (in press). Client complexity in kinship care. Retrieved from http://wwww.baptcare.org.auGoogle Scholar
Barton, S., Gonzalez, R., & Tomlinson, P. (2011). Therapeutic residential care for children and young people; An attachment and trauma-informed model for practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Bath, H. (2008). The three pillars of trauma-informed care. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 17 (3), 17–21.Google Scholar
Beauchamp, J., Goodyear, M., Power, J., von Doussa, H., & Young, J. (2013). Child Aware Approaches Project: Trauma-informed family sensitive practice for adult oriented health services. Melbourne: The Bouverie Centre.Google Scholar
Bloom, S. (1999). Trauma theory abbreviated. Community Works. Retrieved from http://www.sanctuaryweb.com/PDFs_new/Bloom%20Trauma%20Theory%20Abbreviated.pdfGoogle Scholar
Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania. (2008). New directions in child protection in Tasmania: Action plan for family services. Retrieved from http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/-data/assets/pdf_file/003/122376/DHHS_children_in_care_Action_Plan_New_Directions._pdfGoogle Scholar
Fallot, R., & Harris, M. (2001). Envisioning a trauma-informed service system: A vital paradigm shift. New Directions for Mental Health Services, 89, 3–22.Google Scholar
Frederico, M., Long, M., McNamara, P., McPherson, L., Rose, R., & Gilbert, K. (2012). The Circle program: An evolution of a therapeutic approach to foster care. Melbourne: Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.Google Scholar
McNamara, P. (2014). A new era in the development of therapeutic residential care in the state of Victoria. In Whittaker, J. K., del Valle, J. & Holmes, L. (Eds.), Therapeutic residential care with children and youth: Identifying promising pathways to evidence-based international practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Morton, J., Clark, R., & Pead, J. (1999). When care is not enough. Department of Human Services, Victoria. Retrieved from www.berrystreet.org.au/Assets/610/DHSReport-Whencareisnotenough1999.pdfGoogle Scholar
Verso Consulting. (2011). Evaluation of the therapeutic residential care pilot programs: Final summary and technical report. Department of Human Services, Victoria. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/OOHS/712868/therapeutic-residential-care-report.pdfGoogle Scholar
Victorian Government. (2014). Out of home care: A five year plan. Victoria's vulnerable children our shared responsibility. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-deaprtment/plans,-program-youth-and-family-services/out-of-home-care-afive-year-plan2.Google Scholar
Wadsworth, Y. (1998). What is participatory action research? Action Research International, Paper 2. Retrieved from http://www.aral.com.au/ari/p-ywadsworth98.htmlGoogle Scholar