WHY WAIT?: A Productive Model of partnership between a Child & Family Support Service and Allied Health Professionals in the Real World of "Waiting Lists" The Benevolent Society Jane Rabie Alison Piedade Bankstown Community Resource Group Nisrine El-Choueifati Rebecca Galea

PURPOSEFUL PARTNERSHIP BCRG – local long established community agency –providing a range of community services including speech pathology services in childcare centres TBS – established in larger agency comparatively new to local area. –providing Brighter Futures suite of services to local vulnerable children and families –holds brokerage funds to purchase services for families Shared philosophies and commitment by both agencies to integrated service delivery between community agencies– efficient use of existing resources in Bankstown

Bankstown Local Government Area

NEEDS AND GAPS Long waiting lists – unmet need in professional speech pathology services Early intervention – best result for child Client group – vulnerable children and families –complex strengths and needs –Large component of families from non-English speaking backgrounds –vulnerable caregiver difficulties implementing professional advice

KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE PARTNERSHIP What is the nature of the child’s difficulty communicating? –How do we screen children? How are any difficulties the child is experiencing best addressed by the partnership and caregivers? –How do we assist families to implement the recommendations.

BF- Home visiting-case management-Ages and stages Referral to the SP SP consent & contact with families Monthly screenings- report, referrals Child care, school and family meetings BCRG speech pathology project BCRG therapy in preschool It Takes Two to Talk® — The Hanen Program® for Parents Staff Inservices informing home visiting Bensoc Brighter Futures Incredible years and TIPS parent programs Home visiting program THE PROCESS Long Term Intervention & Support

Parents Social isolation Relationship difficulties Domestic Violence Mental illness Intellectual disabilities Large families Financial difficulties Settlement issues CALD PRESENTING ISSUES - ASSESSMENT

Child Limited social interaction Developmental delay including communication skills Trauma Limited attention – hyper-vigilance Attachment disorders Academic difficulties Physical health CALD PRESENTING ISSUES – ASSESSMENT

ChildParents social isolation Relationship difficulties Domestic Violence Mental illness Intellectual disabilities large families Financial difficulties Settlement issues CALD SCREENING AND ADDRESSING ISSUES Limited social interaction Developmental delay including communication skills Trauma Limited attention – hyper-vigilance Attachment disorders Academic difficulties Physical health CALD

How do we support parent-child interactions and provide simultaneous opportunities for children's speech and language development?

SHARED PERSPECTIVES BCRG & TBS Holistic approach & multiple interventions Family-centred/child-led Quality Child Care Capacity to support families long-term Maximising everyday opportunities for language and learning

Adult and Child interaction is at the heart of TBS and BCRG engagement with families Parents Child Clear Shared End Goal Responsive adult – child interactions that support the child’s developing capacity in speech and communication.

Pattern recognition – Interaction and Culture –CALD families –First word users –Early School Aged children EVALUATION

FAMILY BENEFITS FROM PARTNERSHIP Improved service pathways for families Cutting down waiting list times Improved outcomes for more children than would otherwise have access to a Speech Pathologist at critical early stages of development Consistent key messages, support and follow up

AGENCY BENEFITS FROM PARTNERSHIP Smoother cross referrals between agencies Enhanced staff skills and knowledge – both agencies Effective interagency communication, collaboration and integration Value for money

Develop and maintain local interagency relationships to understand existing services and skills of each other’s staff to identify potential. Consider whether current service provision has potential to be expanded and adapted to meet a need. Begin a dialogue – brainstorm – let others know your end goals for clients. SUGGESTIONS FOR APPLICATION OF PARTNERSHIP MODEL IN OTHER CONTEXTS

Be respectful of agency limitations and constraints but don’t expect to be defeated by them. Develop clear simple written agreements Ensure the partnership is working effectively on the ground during implementation. SUGGESTIONS FOR APPLICATION OF PARTNERSHIP MODEL IN OTHER CONTEXTS cont.

References Girolametto,L. & Weitzman, E. (2006). It Takes Two to Talk — The Hanen Program® for Parents: Early Language Intervention through Caregiver Training. Brookes Publishing. Wing, C.(2005) It’s about connection: providing speech and language services to abused children (American speech and language association) Carolyn Webster-Stratton (2006). The Incredible Years A Trouble Shooting Guide for Parents of Children Aged 2-8 Years. Seattle: Incredible Years