Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies Conference, 18–20 August 2008

1. Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies Conference, 18–20 August 2008 • Enhancing safety and wellbeing for children through • supporting the meaningful inclusion of families • facing challenges into mainstream child care: • The Role of the Child Care Resource Officer (CCRO) • Julie Druce • Director of Early Intervention & Family Support • SDN Children’s Services & LubaTorban • j.druce@sdn.org.auChild Care Resource Officer SDN Children’s Services l.torban@sdn.org.au

2. Acknowledgement of country • We would like to acknowledge • the traditional custodians of this land • and pay our respects to the Elders • – past, present and future – • for they hold the memories, the traditions, • the culture and hopes of • Indigenous Australia.

3. Voluntary Targeted to families facing challenges with children 0-8 years. Case-managed support to prevent an escalation into child protection. Aimed at reaching families as early as possible to provide early support and early intervention. A single entry point. The SDN Brighter Futures Program is

4. The SDN Brighter Futures Program • The program has three core goals: • • To promote healthy development in children • • To promote strong, functional and well-supported families • • To reduce and prevent child abuse and neglect in participating families.

6. The Multi-Disciplinary Teams • *Family workers *Finance administrators • *Social workers *Managers • *Child carers *Project officers • *Administrators *Psychoanalytical psychologists • *Aboriginal Family • Support Worker *Educators

8. The Referral Process SDN DoCS DoCS determines eligibility SDN Early Intervention Workers The EIW contacts the Child Care Resource Officer (CCRO) DoCS Early Intervention Workers The EIW contacts the Child Care Resource Officer (CCRO) EIW provides ongoing support to parent CCRO provides ongoing support to staff

9. The Referral Process The CCRO • Supports regular follow-up meetings to ensure a • collaborative and holistic approach to case management. Sources a child care service for the family Facilitates a family service meeting – inviting family members/ community elders, EIW, Director, Primary Educators & the CCRO. Facilitates Reflection Meetings to engage service educators to further support the family.

10. Childcare is one of the major aspects of the Brighter Futures service delivery Parenting styles & cultural practices CHILD FAMILY Respectful partnerships STAFF

11. The Role of the Child Care Resource Officer • *To facilitate the families’ involvement with our • Brighter Futures program. • *To facilitate equitable access into mainstream • childcare. • *To facilitate meaningful inclusion of Brighter Futures • families into early childhood services.

12. SDN BF family systems model of early intervention Relationships Building Family/Child CCRO EIW Child care centre: staff EIWs and CCROs working together for children and families

13. What impact does the role of the CCRO have on the Service?

14. Good news story