Program Requirements for the Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration Program
July 2012
Program requirements for the Aboriginal Family Decision Making Program, July 2012page1
Published by Child Protection, Placement and Family Services, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria
© Copyright State of Victoria, Department of Human Services, 2012
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Authorised by the State Government of Victoria, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
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July 2012
Program requirements for the Aboriginal Family Decision Making Program, July 2012page1
Table of contents
1.Introduction
1.1Background
1.2Purpose
1.3Scope
1.4Target group
1.4.1The current range of performance indicators for AFP&R
1.5Acceptance of statutory clients
1.6Objectives
1.7Context
1.7.1Children, Youth and Families Act
1.7.2Common principles to guide practice and decision making in the best interests of children
1.7.3Community services: a framework for registration and quality assurance
2.System and organisational requirements
2.1Service delivery
2.1.1Monitoring and review
2.1.2Service redevelopment
2.1.3Performance measures
2.2Partnerships
2.2.1Coordinating service delivery
2.2.2Working agreements between AFP&R providers
3.1Information sharing
3.2Records, knowledge and information management
3.3Program monitoring and evaluation
3.4Complaint and allegations management
3.5Client feedback
3.6Staffing competency and recruitment
3.7Resolving differences
3.8Prioritisation, allocation and demand management
3.9Community education
4.Client care requirements
4.1Service environment
4.2Inclusive practice
4.3Building capacity
4.4Family connectedness
4.5Children, youth and family involvement
4.6Responding to diversity
4.7Meeting the needs of children, young people and families, where a family member has a disability
4.8Respecting Aboriginal children and young people’s identity
4.8.1Underlying principles and beliefs
4.8.2As an Aboriginal service provider you can expect universal service providers to operate in the following manner
4.9Promoting safety
4.10Promoting stability and connectedness
4.11Promoting development
4.12Service access and engagement
4.13Assessment
4.14Planning
4.15Action
5. Practice requirements
5.1Referral pathways
5.1.1Placement prevention and family reunification
5.1.2Referral consultation and outcome
5.1.3Agreement between AFP&R and Child Protection
5.1.4Acceptance of community referrals
5.1.5Criteria for non-acceptance of referrals
5.2Withdrawal of service
5.2.1Transfers between AFP&R programs
5.3Review and closure
5.3.1Case closure summary report
5.4Roles and responsibilities
5.4.1Staff functions
5.4.2Local advisory groups
5.4.3Statewide reference group
5.5High level of intensity
5.5.1Primary worker
5.5.2Client participation
5.6After-hours availability
5.7Intake
5.8Home and community based intervention
5.9Short-term involvement
5.10Two-family caseload
5.11Supervision
5.11.1Referrals to ongoing support services
5.11.2Case management responsibility
5.11.3Reporting procedures
5.11.4Confidentiality
5.12Case closure
5.12.1Letter to Child Protection and the family
5.13Feedback to the AFP&R program
5.14Acknowledgement and celebration
6.Supporting documents
6.1Relevant legislative requirements
6.2Policy resources
6.3Practice resources
7.Glossary
1.Introduction
In establishing the two new Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration (AFP&R) programs in 2000 it became apparent that the Department of Human Services had no specific program documentation to guide the establishment of new services. Staff members from the three pilot programs were trained by an experienced departmental staff member in conjunction with the coordinator of the Malanee Bugilmah program. Reliance upon Families First program documents and the experience of the two trainers were instrumental in getting the programs off the ground; however, each was left to produce its own program documents. The availability of core service description documents and an orientation training program for new staff is considered critical for establishing any new programs. While the reliance upon the Malanee Buglimah program at the beginning of the pilot programs was essential, it is now recognised that Victoria has five well-founded and experienced programs that are an invaluable source of information and knowledge, mentoring and leadership.
During November and December 2000 the AFP&RProgram Reference Group considered proposals on the best way to research and develop an AFP&R service description document and an orientation-training program. The reference group reached agreement that an AFP&Rproject officer position be created whose role it would be to meet with each of the AFP&R programs, to gather together the service and training materials they have developed, and conduct further research to create a single service description document and training program for new staff.
1.1Background
In 1998 the Department of Human Services piloted three AFP&R programs including:
- Muthi Miah Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration program, auspiced by the Department of Human Services and covering Robinvale and Swan Hill
- Burri Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration and Extended Care Program, located in Shepparton and auspiced by the Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative
- Wanjana Lidj Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration Program, located in Morwell and auspiced by Anglicare.
The Muthi Miah and Wanjana Lidj programs were funded by new government funds and Hume Region funded the Burri program. The three programs undertook staff training together and commenced operation at the same time.
The AFP&Rprogram was modelled on the New South Wales program Malanee Bugilmah Intensive Family Based Support Services, and is based on the American Home Builders program, which was introduced into Victoria as Families First. The goal of the AFP&Rprogram is to work intensively over a short time (three to four months) with families referred by Child Protection who are at imminent risk of having their child removed or to facilitate the safe return of children to their families.
There have been some changes to these programs since their inception. Muthi Miah continues to be auspiced by the department’s Loddon Mallee Region, but it now concentrates its service in Swan Hill. The auspice arrangements of Wanjana Lidj have been transferred to the Central Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative for Health and Housing. Equitable funding for all three programs has been successfully obtained.
The department contracted Yuruga Enterprises to complete an evaluation of the three pilot programs over the period from July 1998 to March 2000, reviewing the first two years of operation. The evaluation team concluded that the AFP&R program model has been successful in engaging Aboriginal families in a meaningful and culturally appropriate way, enabling change to occur. At the conclusion of the evaluation the three pilot programs were conferred as ongoing programs, ending their pilot status.
The evaluation was overseen by the AFP&RReference Group, which is comprised of the coordinators of each of the AFP&R programs, representatives of auspice agencies, regional departmental representatives and chaired by the manager of the department’s Indigenous Initiatives Unit. The reference group was expanded to include representatives of the proposed two new AFP&R programs in late 1999.
In 2000 two new AFP&R service providers were appointed:
- Alice Clarke AFP&Rprogram located in Mildura under the auspice of the Mildura Aboriginal Corporation
- Wilka Kwe AFP&Rprogram located in Dandenong under the auspice of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).
1.2Purpose
The AFP&R programs aim to decrease the need for Aboriginal children to receive out-of-home care by increasing the parenting and life skills of Aboriginal parents and families.
They help reunify Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home placements with their families, as well as helping Aboriginal families to manage their own lifestyles and assist them in crisis situations.
AFP&R programs have other purposes as well:
- AFP&R programs help families to cope with extreme or challenging situations and to understand the importance of early childhood development and adolescent needs. This understanding, together with problem-solving and parenting skills, provides the base for effective family life for Aboriginal children.
- AFP&R aims to empower Aboriginal families to manage their own family dynamics.
- The protection of Aboriginal children from abuse and neglect is an integral aim of the AFP&Rprogram. The programs assist Aboriginal families to network and develop community links to strengthen their family unit in their Aboriginal family culture.
- AFP&R programs aim to ensure that the re-occurrence of child abuse and neglect are reduced through referring and engaging clients with local support services following case closure. It is fully recognised that transitional supports following an intensive intervention program will maximise the effectiveness of the service provided.
- AFP&R programs help prevent or reduce the number of out-of-home placements of Aboriginal children/young people who have been, or are suspected of having been, abused, neglected or abandoned by their parent(s), or who are at risk of imminent removal or placement due to family breakdown.
- AFP&R programs aim to promote family self-sufficiency and a reduction in the need for further child protection and crisis intervention services by increasing parenting skills, life skills and coping abilities.
Scope
Activity: Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration
Activity number: 31165
1.4Target group
The department funds AFP&R programs to provide intensive family support to Aboriginal families at immediate risk of having their children removed by Child Protection. Priority eligibility is given to children and their families referred by Child Protection. There are limited circumstances in which community referrals will be accepted. The referral eligibility criteria are described below.
To ensure priority is given to the needs of statutory clients, the AFP&R coordinator will notify Child Protection when a program vacancy arises to allow AFP&R services to be offered first to Child Protection referrals in preference to community referrals.
1.4.1The current range of performance indicators for AFP&R
Regions can add and vary performance measures and targets by negotiation. In general, the performance measures look at:
- the percentage of AFP&Rprogram families receiving a 12-week service (the target is between 80 per cent and 90 per cent annually)
- the number of families assisted by AFP&R (the annual target per program is 20)
- the percentage of AFP&R clients who are subject to Child Protection involvement (only one region has negotiated a target for this, which is 80 per cent)
- the rate of prevented out-of home placements (the target is to prevent at least 85 per cent of clients entering out-of-home care at three months after termination of the service, and for 75 per cent of clients, 12 months after service). These placement prevention targets apply after the first full year of the service operating (not currently in use).
1.5Acceptance of statutory clients
Those families referred to an AFP&Rservice by Child Protection are included in the category of ‘statutory clients’ and acceptance is based on the following criteria:
- Aboriginal families subject to a notification who are experiencing some form of crisis and where Child Protection identifies unsafe practices or child abuse
- where the child is at imminent risk of being removed from the family
- where Child Protection is of the belief that the family cannot ensure the continued safety of the child(ren) by their own actions, and where intervention and support through the AFP&R can alleviate immediate risks
- where children are returning home from an out-of-home placement and where the children or young people have been in an out-of-home placement for more than two weeks
- where there is a willingness by at least one of the parents/carers to work with the program and to help in goal setting
- where an adolescent client is willing to work with the program in setting and working on goals.
1.6Objectives
The AFP&Rprogram assists families to improve their parenting and address protective concerns, reducing the need to remove their children. Where it has been critical to place a child away from his/her family the AFP&Rprogram can work with the family to facilitate reunification.
The key components of AFP&R are:
- home-based program
- one worker per family
- two-case limit per worker at any one time
- prevention of out-of-home placement by increasing life skills, coping ability, parenting skills, problem solving, networking the family with the relevant community support, ensuring adequate child protection
- staff availability on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The AFP&Rprogram is based on the premise that it is best for children to grow up in their own families and that, in families where there is child abuse and/or neglect; skilled professionals can assist families to learn more appropriate ways to raise their children. The program provides intensive in-home family (including extended family) services, which includes crisis counselling, skills education, parenting skills and increasing coping abilities. The goal of the program is to prevent the unnecessary dissolution of Aboriginal families in times of crisis where child protection concerns exist. The program provides intensive and time-limited culturally appropriate in-home support to Aboriginal families.
AFP&Rworkers are available to families 24 hours a day and intervention is individually designed to meet the needs of each child and their family, with a wide range of work being carried out with families. It also provides for support and therapeutic assistance. The primary focus of the program is to ensure the safety of Aboriginal children and young people in the home. In this respect, AFP&R offers families the option of working to preserve the family unit in support of the child.
The AFP&Rprogram provides the opportunity for children or young people to be reunified with their family. In instances where an Aboriginal child or young person has required placement outside their immediate family the program will work to enable the child or young person to return to their family permanently.
1.7Context
1.7.1Children, Youth and Families Act
The Children Youth and Families Act 2005provides the legislative basis for an integrated system response of services to vulnerable children, young people and their families. It provides a framework for promoting children’s safety, wellbeing and development.
The legislative context has a strong focus on children’s best interests, with particular emphasis on the safety, stability and healthy development of children. It also strongly emphasises the need to preserve cultural identity.
1.7.2Common principles to guide practice and decision making in the best interests of children
Placing a child’s best interests at the centre of all decision making and service delivery is necessary to promote their safety, stability and healthy development.
The Children, Youth and Families ActBest interests principles provide a unifying set of principles across Child Protection, community-based child and family services, out-of-home care services and the Children’s Court, that guides all decision making and service delivery.
In accordance with the Children, Youth and Families Act, family and early parenting services are required to provide their services in relation to a child in a manner that is in the best interests of the child.
The Children, Youth and Families Act states that the best interests of the child must always be paramount, and that in determining whether a decision or action is in the child’s best interests, the need to protect the child from harm, protect his or her rights and promote his or her development must always be considered.
The best interests of a child are protected and promoted by ensuring a child’s right to:
- safety – including the provision of a safe and nurturing environment that meets a child or young person’s physical, social and emotional needs and protects them from harm
- stability – including connectedness to family, primary carers, school, their peer group, community and culture
- development – including health, emotional and behavioural development, education and learning, family and social relationships, identity, social presentation and self-care skills.
Assessment, planning or actions taken by family and early parenting services need to consider these three dimensions through the lens of the child’s culture, gender, age and stage.
These principles reflect the need to consider the child’s longer term development, placing a stronger emphasis on identifying and addressing the early indicators of cumulative harm.
The Children, Youth and Families Act decision-making principles highlight the importance of involving children and families in decision-making processes, and of providing them with assistance and support to do so in a meaningful way.
1.7.3Community services: a framework for registration and quality assurance
Services of the highest quality are required to provide children with their right to safety, stability and healthy development.
The Children, Youth and Families Act provides a strong framework to ensure the quality of services and care provided to children and families. It allows the department to register a body as a community service if it meets the needs of children requiring care, support, protection or accommodation, and the needs of families requiring support. The community service must also meet the relevant performance standards determined and published by the Minister.
Quality assurance approaches help ensure services meet a set quality standard and provide a foundation for assuring strong and professional organisations and services that meet the needs of children, young people and families. These approaches include departmental and corporate governance standards, service agreements and a monitoring framework.
Quality improvement involves organisations continually exploring better ways of providing services through strategic planning, continuous learning, evidence-based practice, professional development and evaluation processes.
Family and early parenting services are required to be registered under the Children, Youth and Families Act and to comply with the department’s Standards.
2.System and organisational requirements
These requirements relate to system-wide and organisational expectations of service providers that deliver AFP&Rservices on behalf of government. The philosophies, principles and organisational structures of funded organisations must support the provision of high-quality support for Aboriginal children and young people.
2.1Service delivery
Aboriginal community-controlled organisations registered under the Children, Youth and Families Act provide child and family services within Victoria.
Note: Aboriginal Family Decision Making (AFDM) is delivered via a partnership between the Department of Human Services AFDM convenor, located within the Department of Human Services regional office, and Aboriginal community convenors, located within regional Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.