Kylie Bennett, A. Booth, S. Gair, Rose J Kibet, R. Thorpe
{"title":"Poverty is the problem – not parents: so tell me, child protection worker, how can you help?","authors":"Kylie Bennett, A. Booth, S. Gair, Rose J Kibet, R. Thorpe","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.39","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.39","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Families who attract the attention of child protection services most often have ongoing lived experiences of poverty, gender-based domestic and family violence, problematic substance use and, sometimes, formally diagnosed mental health conditions. Without broader contextual knowledge and understanding, particularly regarding ongoing poverty, decision-making by child protection workers often leads to the removal of children, while the family’s material poverty and experiences of violence remain unaddressed. Case studies are a common tool to succinctly capture complex contexts. In this article, we make explicit, through case examples and analysis, how poverty is almost always the backdrop to the presence of worrying risk factors before and during child protection intervention. Further, we expose the existential poverty that parents live with after they lose their children into care and which invariably exacerbates material poverty. In the final section, we consider the multi-faceted organisational poverty that blights the work environment of child protection workers, and we suggest strategies for improved practice with families living in poverty.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.39","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47779496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Renée O’Donnell, Muriel Bamblett, Gabrielle Johnson, Sue Hunter, K. Stringer, Shantai Croisdale, Bengianni Pizzirani, D. Ayton, Melissa Savaglio, H. Skouteris
{"title":"Evaluation of the Cradle to Kinder programme for Aboriginal mothers and their children: perspectives from the women and their workers","authors":"Renée O’Donnell, Muriel Bamblett, Gabrielle Johnson, Sue Hunter, K. Stringer, Shantai Croisdale, Bengianni Pizzirani, D. Ayton, Melissa Savaglio, H. Skouteris","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.40","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.40","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This research was undertaken on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to Elders of the past, present and emerging, and also acknowledge the generous contribution to this research made by women and their families and Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) staff. Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder (AC2K) is a home-visiting and advocacy programme focussed on promoting Aboriginal maternal and child health during both pre- and postnatal stages of parenthood which was delivered by VACCA, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. While there have been some feasibility assessments conducted on AC2K, no study to date has evaluated the impact of this programme from the perspective of neither the women nor the staff who deliver the programme. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate how both the women and the staff evaluated the AC2K programme, namely the strengths, limitations and recommendations of the programme. Through consultation with VACCA, this study used a qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the processes underpinning the programme coupled with participants’ experiences of the programme. A co-design process was used in the development of interview questions, and a total of seven women and six workers participated in semi-structured interviews. The results revealed three superordinate themes across both participant groups: cultural connection (i.e. how well the programme facilitates cultural connection), system complexities (i.e. caseloads, staff turnover and child protection [CP] difficulties) and programme features (i.e. parenting enhancement and unique programme benefits). The processes, and the programme more broadly, were evaluated positively by both the women and staff who supported its delivery. Specifically, a greater connection to culture, increased parenting skills and unique programme benefits were reported. However, there were recommendations on how the programme could be further strengthened, including negotiable caseloads with the Department and improved partnership with CP. These changes can help to further improve the experiences of both the women and their workers when engaging in Aboriginal specific maternal health and well-being supports.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.40","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44493730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Going down with the ship: a daughter’s observations on hoarding","authors":"","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.11","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This essay is a first-person narrative of the author’s experience as the child of a hoarder. It is published anonymously to protect the privacy of those discussed.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.11","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42816116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Parents’ experiences and use of parenting resources during the transition to parenthood","authors":"R. Sanders, J. Lehmann, F. Gardner","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.33","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The purpose of this paper is to report on new parents’ experiences of using the available range of parenting resources that help to guide parenting choices and practices. Using a semi-structured interview schedule, 30 participants were asked about their engagement with parenting resources. The types of resources considered most salient to the participants of this study in Victoria, Australia, included professional services, peers, family and friends, and written material. On the whole, these parents valued expert opinion when they encountered problems but experienced a level of frustration when they did not ‘feel heard’ by professionals or when faced with mixed messages. While they reported some resistance to overt advice offered by family and friends, especially if the information was considered ‘out-dated’, they relied heavily on informal advice and support from peers, even if this was supported only by anecdotal evidence.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.33","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43663508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Children in hoarded homes: A call for protection, prevention, intervention and compassionate care","authors":"S. Chabaud","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.19","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.19","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This is a call for action to protect and assist children of hoarding parents. Action that minimises harm to children living in hoarded homes also promotes family safety and health. Optimal care involves the whole family system, both children and parents. Prevention of harm through early identification and intervention for hoarding can reduce the burden of a disorder that often increases in severity over a lifetime and deprives humans of a full and safe life. Helping children and their parents severely affected by hoarding disorder is for the public good. Public policy and funded programmes can reduce long-term and immense costs to children, families and the many systems hoarding affects. Specifically, public policy can facilitate and fund outreach, education, coordination of providers of health, social and public services, and research-driven methods for assessment and intervention on behalf of children, individuals and families. Releasing people from the grips of hoarding disorder can enable them to devote generative resources to themselves, their families and their communities. Ultimately, prevention of hoarding through early assessment and intervention for minors and young adults is the most efficient, long-term and cost-effective method for minimising harm. When unidentified, hoarding disorder intensifies, people go into hiding, risk increases and opportunity for detection and intervention decreases. Informing the public about hoarding disorder must be followed with sufficient resources to address it, otherwise, helplessness ensues, and people will likely remain in the hidden world it governs.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.19","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45538071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The perspective of children of hoarding parents (COHP)","authors":"Cecilia A. Garrett","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.26","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The perspective herein is based upon the lived experience of adult Children of Hoarding Parents (COHP). The weight of parental hoarding on COHP is not derived solely from the physical adversity of living within a hoarded home but also comes with the social and psychological challenges they carry into adulthood. The view of hoarding as a family disorder with lasting impact evokes research questions including the exploration of the relationship between childhood adversity and parental hoarding, and the application of attachment theory to hoarding behaviours and family relationships. These types of research studies may lead to policy adoption and programme development for early identification of and intervention within families where parental hoarding represents a threat to child welfare.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.26","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41649391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Davidson, Mary E. Dozier, Tina L. Mayes, Kylie A. Baer, Catherine R. Ayers
{"title":"Family and social functioning in adults with hoarding disorder","authors":"E. Davidson, Mary E. Dozier, Tina L. Mayes, Kylie A. Baer, Catherine R. Ayers","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.20","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Hoarding is associated with problems engaging in social activities, lower social support, increased isolation and poses substantial challenges to family functioning. The aim of this investigation was to explore the relationship between hoarding severity and family and social functioning variables in 60 treatment-seeking adults with hoarding disorder (HD). Participants completed a battery of self-report measures during a baseline assessment completed prior to treatment. Forty-seven percent of participants reported they live alone. Forty-eight percent of participants reported that family and friends never visit them in their home, and 33% indicated they never had visitors to their home, not even service workers or repair people. Twelve percent of participants indicated they never visit with family or friends outside of their home; however, 55% of participants endorsed phoning family or friends more than 9 times each month. Increased clutter and hoarding severity was associated with a lower frequency of family and friends visiting in the home. Family competence and conflict were both positively associated with hoarding severity. Our results shed light on family and social impairment in HD and their relationship with symptom severity; however, additional research should examine social dysfunction among non-treatment-seeking individuals who may be more impaired or isolated.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.20","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43133212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An overview of hoarding difficulties in children and adolescents","authors":"Stuart R. C. Whomsley","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.29","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.29","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper considers how what has been learned about hoarding difficulties in adults can be applied to working with children and adolescents and how our knowledge of child development can improve how we help the younger person with this problem. In particular, attachment relationships to objects and organisational difficulties will be focused upon. The importance of earlier interventions, earlier in life, to prevent problems in the future is stressed. Future directions including a research agenda are put forward.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.29","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49354511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Future research directions in children and hoarding","authors":"Andrew G. Guzick, Sophie C. Schneider, E. Storch","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.13","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Despite a rapidly growing understanding of hoarding disorder (HD), there has been relatively limited systematic research into the impact of hoarding on children and adolescents. The goal of this paper is to suggest future research directions, both for children with hoarding behaviours and children living in a cluttered home. Key areas reviewed in this paper include (1) the need for prospective studies of children with hoarding behaviours and those who grow up with a parent with HD; (2) downward extensions of cognitive-behavioural models of adult HD that emphasise different information processing and behavioural biases in youth HD; (3) developmental research into the presentation of emerging HD in childhood compared with adulthood presentations of the disorder, with consideration of typical childhood development and unique motivators for childhood saving behaviours; (4) developmentally sensitive screening and assessment; and (5) the development of evidence-based treatments for this population. The paper concludes with a discussion of methodological suggestions to meet these aims.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.13","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43035879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Melissa Urquhart, F. Gardner, M. Frederico, R. Sanders
{"title":"Right brain to right brain therapy: how tactile, expressive arts therapy emulates attachment","authors":"Melissa Urquhart, F. Gardner, M. Frederico, R. Sanders","doi":"10.1017/cha.2020.30","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.30","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The impact of a manipulative art therapy technique combined with an attuned therapeutic relationship which aims to replicate the experience of nurturing touch in infancy is explored in this paper. The current literature will be reviewed in relation to the interface between attachment-related trauma and the use of expressive art and play therapy in the context of relevant clinical experience. Specific experiences of clinical practice with children and associated therapeutic outcomes are used to illustrate the potential of this combination. In addition, we argue for further investigation of therapeutic benefits inherent in manipulative art and play in replication of the regulating role of touch with children who have experienced early relational trauma.","PeriodicalId":44896,"journal":{"name":"Children Australia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/cha.2020.30","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46879491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}