Community Group Program
- Introduction
- Context
- Mission Statement
- Objectives
- The Concept
- Service Delivery Model
- Target Group
- System of Referral
- Staffing
- Current Programs of the Community Group Program
- Announcing
- Addressing Family Violence Program
- Future Directions
- Progress Reports
- Manuals
- Posters
- Professional Development
- Papers Published
Introduction
The Community Group Program is a joint venture between The Royal Children's Hospital Integrated Mental Health Program (RCH IMHP) and Travancore School.
Travancore School is a specialist Department of Education & Training facility, co-located with RCH IMHP, which supports a continuum of service for school aged young people between the two service sectors, Mental Health and Education.
The primary aim is to enhance the current functioning and future potential of children and adolescents who are dealing with familial, behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, through creative consumer focused group work based within local school and community settings. The objectives of the program are to:
- Address the mental health and well being of 'at risk' children and adolescents through and integrated, innovative and clinically evaluated therapeutic response.
- Establish a partnership with Department of Education & Training mainstream schools in order to collaboratively run programs in school communities.
- Increase the ability of school and community workers to promote positive mental health and enhance protective/risk reduction factors among young people and their parents.
- Increase access to clinical specialist group work program in community settings local to client needs.
Historically RCH IMHP/Travancore School have collaborated to provide:
- Inpatient programs
- Some group programming from The Royal Children's Hospital campus at Travancore
- Currently this collaboration provides a range of clinically focused specialist services including:
- Community Group Programs
- Inpatient Programs
- School Liaison
- School Consultancy
- Professional Development
- Assessment
Context
RCH IMHP has set a very high priority on the development of a service model in which service delivery will be at the local level. While core administrative functions remain at the 'hub' (Travancore) all programs best suited at the local level are being situated in the 'spoke' (community) locations. To this end community teams have been established at spoke locations within their local catchment areas. The Community Group Program, extending this process is delivering programs on local school sites.
Mission Statement
To enhance the current functioning and future potential of children and adolescents who are dealing with familial, behavioural and social difficulties, through creative consumer focused group work based within local school and community settings.
Objectives
Our global objective is to implement the strategic directions of both the "Mental Health Promotion and Prevention National Action Plan: 1998-2003" and the Department of Education & Trainings "Student Services Framework: 1998".
Addressing the mental health and well being of 'at risk' children and adolescents through an integrated, innovative and clinically evaluated therapeutic response.
- Establish a partnership with Department of Education & Training mainstream schools in order to collaboratively run programs in school communities.
- Increasing the ability of school and community workers to promote positive mental health and enhance protective/risk reduction factors among young people and their parents.
- Increase access to clinical specialist group work program in community settings local to client needs.
The Concept
The concept involves enhancing a broader partnership between the two sectors
- Education
- Mental health
Enabling the skilling up of both staff groups in a way that will add value to their combined abilities to service the mental health needs of young people in the Western Region.
Service Delivery Model
The Community Group Program is based on an innovative form of specialist program delivery supported by a suite of features which include
- Service Provision
Programs are delivered in school and community settings.
- Resources
Specialist staff, program packages and support materials are provided by RCH IMHP/Travancore Staff as well as producing manuals and Professional Development Training Workshops.
- Train the Trainer
Host schools and/or Networks provide a staff member (Teacher or SSSO's) to collaborate in program delivery. This provides the opportunity for a 'ripple effect' whereby schools are able to continue service delivery after program conclusion.
- Secondary Consultation
Travancore School/RCHMHP staff offer secondary consultation both during and after program delivery. This enhances collaboration between the two professional groups, Mental Health and Education. It also serves as a conduit for appropriate referrals to other MHS services.
- Evaluation
The Community Group Program, in collaboration with RCHMHS/Academic Research Unit, has established an evaluation program to measure and monitor client outcomes and feedback into the ongoing planning cycle and enhance future service delivery.
The Community Group Program currently provides 13 groups to 16-18 different schools and community venues each term. The focus of these groups range from enhancing self esteem and social skills using cognitive-behavioural therapy, art therapy and adventure based therapy, through to psycho-educational "in-class" programs that challenge sexual stereotypes and homophobia as well as more psychodynamic group work programs that deal with the impact of family violence on children.
Target Group
The Community Group Program's identified target population comprises two specific developmental age groups:
- Children 5-11 years (Primary School Age)
The focus is this age group is on early intervention and prevention through promoting self esteem, positive peer relationships, connectedness to and participation of family and school, reduction in mood and behaviour disorders.
- Young people 12-15 Years (Early Secondary School Age)
The focus for this age group is on promoting self esteem and self image, positive peer relationships, connectedness to and participation of family and school, acceptance and valuing of cultural diversity, reducing the incidence and prevalence of self harming behaviours, mood and behaviours disorders, suicidal behaviours and anti-social behaviours.
System of Referral
Referrals to the Community Group Program are made through Student Support Service Officers, Assistant Principals and Student Welfare Co-ordinators or RCH IMHP Case Managers and then directed to the Administrative Officer of the Community Group Program or the teaching Team Leader of the Community Group Program: This ensures referrals can be accepted from both within IMHP and from within Department of Education.
Staffing
The Community Group Program Team comprises professionals from a range of disciplines including: teaching, social work, and Allied Health.
Current Programs of the Community Group Program
All Community Group Programs have currently been placed on hold until further notice.
For further information on Feeling is Thinking training, please call Wendy Bunston on 9312 7204 or wendy.bunston@rch.org.au.
Announcing...
The Peek a Boo Club is please to announce the soon to be released:
Therapeutic group work for infants and mothers affected by family violence: A reflective practice guide.
This guide accompanies the 2 day experiential training package Infant Mental Health & The Impact of Family Violence which looks at the Peek a Boo Club Group Work Model. For more information contact Wendy Bunston on (03) 9312 7204 or wendy.bunston@rch.og.au.
For more information on the Peek A Boo Club please visit the Addressing Family Violence website.
Progress Reports
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Since our last report published in 2003 we have continued to provide a report on our evaluation findings. To view our additional findings since the last 2 years, see the CGP Report 1999-2005.
The 5 Year Progress Report was Launched on Friday 22nd April at The Royal Children's Hospital Integrated Mental Health Program, Travancore by Mr Robert Blachford, Regional Director, Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne Department of Educating and Training Office.
This Report was produced in two sections 'create' and 'evaluate' .
CGP five year progress report: 'create' (2.2 MB PDF)
CGP five year progress report: 'evaluate' (760 KB PDF)
Operation Newstart Western
On June 9th 2006 Operation Newstart Western an outdoor adventure based program operating out of The Royal Children's Hospital Integrated Mental Health Program lauched their Progress and Evaluation Report (1999 -2006) by Dr Caroline Clarke Executive Director of Medical Services at The Royal Children's Hospital. To view a copy of the report click here (PDF 1.08MB).
Manuals
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Feeling is Thinking Training & Manual
Community Group Program also launched the manual on Feeling is Thinking groupwork model. It is a group work program designed for children (aged between 8 to 11 years) who have difficulty managing strong emotions (either by over internalising or over externalising emotions), and who struggle to successfully resolve conflict.
Order a copy of the FiST manual or view the FiST Contents page.
The Therapeutic Use of Games in Groupwork Manual
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The RCH Mental Health Program - Community Group Program is also excited to announce its newest manual "The Therapeutic Use of Games in Groupwork - When to use them, Why to use then and How to use them". This terrific manual includes a special chapter on 'Training Games for Professionals'. Order a copy of the Games Manual or view a Games Manual sample copy.
Note: Any monies raised by the sale of this book are immediately fed back into the service delivery programs of The Royal Children's Hospital Integrated Mental Health Program.
For US buyers please use this AFVP Book & Games Manual Order Form: $US Order Form.
Posters
Children Do Mind Family Violence
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Children Do Mind Family Violence is a black and white A2 poster, which is straightforward in its message. The soulful faces (five in all) of a child from infancy to primary age captures the deeper impact and consequences of being exposed to and/or a direct victim of family violence. Program Manager Wendy Bunston comments this is a picture that speaks louder than words and has a profound impact on all who view it.
Copies of the poster can be purchased for $5 (per poster plus postage & handling) by contacting Katherine Crooks on (03) 9312 7204. All monies raised from the proceeds of this poster go into the running of the Community Group Programs PARKAS (Parents Accepting Responsibility Kids Are Safe) groups.
Professional Development
The Royal Children's Hospital Addressing Family Violence Programs (AFVP) provides professional development and training events periodically. These include:
Infant Mental Health and Family Violence Training
The Infant Mental Health and Family Violence 2-day Experiential Training (for mothers and infants affected by family violence) looks at the Peek a Boo Club model, the impact of Family Violence on Infant Mental Health and Infant led Work. It provides participants with an introduction to groupwork with infants and mothers affected by family violence.
PARKAS 2-day Experiential Training
The PARKAS (Parents Accepting Responsibility Kids Are Safe) 2-day Experiential Training explores the dynamics of violence, the neurological impact of violence and theoretical perspectives useful in understanding this area of work (for children and parents affected by family violence).
Information on training dates, relevant registration forms and contact details.
Papers Published
Further Information
For further information regarding the Community Group Program, contact Wendy Bunston (wendy.bunston@rch.org.au) or Susannah Duncan on Tel: (03) 9312 7204 or the Travancore School on Tel: (03) 9345 6053 or alternatively visit their website www.travancoresch.vic.edu.au.