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CNAHS Family and

Community Healing Program

Inge Kowanko, Charmaine Power,

Terry Stewart, Rosalie Fraser, Ida Love, Alison Fielding, Pristine

Roberts, Trevor Bromley

Flinders University CNAHS Primary Health Care Aboriginal Outreach

Children, Communities, Connections Conference, UniSA Mawson Lakes SA, 13-14 November 2008

Th e sit ua ti on o f Mo u

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ea st. N o lan d w as vi sib

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ov e

th e h o riz on , wh ic h s h ow ed t he co a st to

be v er y l ow , an d ou r so

un di ng s we re

fa st de cr ea sin g .

F r om noo n to si x

o'c lo ck w e ra n th irt y

m i les to t he n or th wa

rd , sk irt in g a s an d y

s ho re a t t he d ist an ce o f f iv

e, an d th en ce t o eig h t m il es ; t he d ep th w as th en

5 f at ho m s

, an d we d ro p pe d the a nc ho r up o n

a b otto m of sa n d, m

ixe d w ith p ie ce s o f

d e ad co ra l.

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal

owners of this land and the importance of their cultural beliefs and values today

Overview of presentation

• Introduction and overview – Charmaine

• Development and description of FCH program - Terry

• Family Wellbeing course and Nunga Childsplay – Ida

• Pristine’s story

• Alison’s story• The Zebra Finch men’s group – Trevor

• Rosalie’s journey of healing

• Evaluation - Inge• Discussion

FCH Program

• Aim is to develop effective responses to

family violence, addressing complexity within Aboriginal families and

communities.

• FCH is a complex and dynamic set of

group activities for Aboriginal women, men

and youth built around community engagement

Development of FCH program

• Embedded in regional health plans and

priorities

• Requires/enables linkages within CNAHS

and with external agencies, coordination and strategic deployment of funding

streams, resources and personnel

Regional Service Delivery Approaches

Strategic

Area

Communities Priorities Families Priorities Individual Priorities

Social and

Emotional

Wellbeing

�Develop social and

emotional wellbeing

information and

education sessions for

community, families

and individuals

�Provide community

supported parenting

support programs to

families and individual

parents with children

aged 0 – 12 years

�Provide activities that

connect individuals to

community, family, friends

and culture.

�Implement community

supported schooling support

programs and activities

Substance

Misuse

�Provide ongoing

community leadership

development projects

and initiatives, inclusive

of community elders

�Develop and implement

regionally supported

family renewal initiatives

�Implement community

supported early intervention

programs and projects

�Provide accessible primary

health care services for

young people

Diabetes �Provide community

supported health

promotion programs

and activities

�Provide community

involved family support

initiatives and programs,

inclusive of money

matters

�Provide community

credible, coordinated care

and specialist treatment

services

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FCH Program objectives

• Build community capacity to support ‘safe families’

• Equip Aboriginal people with the skills for effective communication and conflict resolution skills

• Support families in crisis• Build capacity of mainstream agencies and

services within the region to address Aboriginal family violence issues within the broader community context

• Workforce development

• Data and evaluation

The Family Wellbeing course and Nunga Childsplay

Pristine’s

story

Alison’s

story

The Zebra Finch Men’s group

3

Rosalie’s journey of healing

Evaluation

• Participatory action research approach

• Mixed methods (document review,

interviews with FCH workers, external

partners, clients)

• Capacity development for all

• Report and recommendations

Challenges

• ongoing organisational restructure

• insufficient staff and resources

• short term, restrictive funding

Strengths

• evidence based design

• holistic approach

• clinical focus

• committed staff

• inter-sectoral linkages

• peer support and mentoring

• Aboriginal cultural focus

http://aboriginalhealth.flinders.edu.au/Newsletters/2008/Downloads/Document_FCH.pdf

http://www.crcah.org.au/research/evaluation_cnahs_program.html

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Work with Women The women’s groups (structured 8-week course; women’s healing group) Nunga Minimas Women’s Shelter – working with staff and women Young women’s group Individual counselling – brief intervention Boystown Women’s wellness camps Nunga Women U R Special Weekly art group including talking circles, peer-led

Work with Young People Leadership and well-being in Windsor Gardens schools (Carol Omar, health info) Kids Connecting with Community School Expo Events Young people’s drop-in (computer) Young Nungas Yarning Holiday program

Work with Community Community peer support initiatives Nunga nutrition lunches (weekly Nunga clinic same day and venue Gilles Plains) Mini conferences – Family violence Life Improvement Plan (25 attended the first of 4 in a series) Clinic Services – adult and child health assessment Lifestyle/Living Skills

Work with Men Zebra Finch men’s group Bush Mechanic (through Man Alive at Semaphore) Peer Support License for Life Young Nungas Yarnin Kinship Program Boystown

Components of the FCH program

FCH Partnerships

• Kura Yerlo• Families SA: Strong Families, Safe Babies

• Women’s health at Dale St, Pt Adelaide.• Nunga Childsplay

• Disability SA• Aboriginal Family Support Services

• Sturt Street Housing project (FV shelter)• SA Dental Service

• DECS: Aboriginal Western Districts Unit• Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council

• Young women’s and young men’s dance groups, eg Kurruru• N Div GP – Aboriginal youth advisory groups eg Headspace

• TWIG (young Aboriginal mums outreach group)• Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA: Inside/Outside Program

• Men’s Aboriginal Youth and Family (MAYF) Support Services• SA Youth Expo

• Centrelink: Cultural Connections Program