CatholicCare Sydney

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Angharad CandlinCoordinator of Parent Education

CatholicCare Sydney

My Kids and Me: increasing wellbeing in the parents of vulnerable children

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PASTELOGOHERE

CatholicCare Sydney

CatholicCare Sydney

• My Kids and Me – 7 week program for parents whose children are in statutory care

• Influenced by the work of Milton Erickson, John Gottman, Dan Siegel and Circle of Security

• Psycho-educational approach using metaphors as a tool for change within an attachment framework

• Highly interactive and creative

CatholicCare Sydney

• Developed between 2008 and 2011 by a multi disciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, parent educators and out of home care workers

• Partnership between CatholicCare Sydney and CatholicCare Wollongong

• Evaluated in 2013 by The Centre for Child Protection; University of South Australia

• Designed and published in 2014

• Facilitator training rolled out 2014 onwards

CatholicCare Sydney

Main reasons for referral are:• Adult substance abuse• Domestic violence• Mental health concerns

Other presenting issues are:• Own history of child protection and removal• Refugees with minimal support• Homelessness• Multiple children removedbeing removed

CatholicCare Sydney

“Every person you will ever meet has infinite worth (regardless of our body mind or talents). We each matter and we matter absolutely”

Frank Kimper and Kent HoffmanCircle of Security

CatholicCare Sydney

CatholicCare Sydney

The Power of Metaphor

CatholicCare Sydney

Facilitators“Supervision is necessary to ‘hold’ them so facilitators are supported when they are ‘hanging over the edge’ with the participants”

•Brave•Ability to be comfortable in discomfort•Be a good role model•Able to co-facilitate and be a capable group facilitator•Non-defensive•Open, humble, kind, caring, calm, flexible, patient•Able to absorb emotions slowly•Able to repair broken trust•Feel safe (so that they can provide safety for the participants)•Have a sense of humour•Hold conflicting drives•Outraged by the parents’ situations •Passionate about My Kids and Me

CatholicCare Sydney

6 Month Follow Up Phone Calls• Felt supported “…it helped knowing that people cared. Many who

attend lack support”• Felt that My Kids and Me was motivating, educational and that the

legal information was useful “it wasn’t confusing and the people were nice”

• Didn’t feel embarrassed to ask, they felt comfortable in a supportive environment which was “not pressured but calm”

• Found the facilitators to be knowledgeable and understanding “They don’t judge but treat everyone equally. Instructors were wonderful”

• Learnt to be assertive and became able to move away from anger “I don’t start with a negative view now, am more open”

• Became able to acknowledge that help was needed and were able to get it

• Learnt that it is necessary to look after themselves “Things happened which you can’t undo so make a new start”.

CatholicCare Sydney

Participant Reflections

“I can’t change the past. Everyone makes mistakes it’s what you do in the present to not make the same mistakes in the future.”

“I have learnt to take time to reflect and appreciate all the good/positive goals you have achieved during the time your baby’s been in care, also I’ve learnt more communication skills, how to deal with sad emotions before turning angry and erupting and also emotions, especially with young kids/babies”

CatholicCare Sydney

I am different since completing MKM. My child returned and I am being straight, dealing with my own feelings, I was taught to be kind to myself. Learnt about paths so my decisions are clearer; I can choose to change direction and know what’s going to happen.