1. Australian Red Cross Young Parents Program
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2. Presented by
Anne King & Sophie Mackey

3. Young Parents Program Established in Randwick in 1993 Formerly called:
Glen Mervyn
Young Women’s Health Program

4. Young Parents Program Funded by NSW Community Services & NSW Health
Accredited OOHC provider with
Office of Children’s Guardian

5. Responding to identified need
Young parents have often experienced
abuse and neglect
poor health
unstable/unsafe home environment
homelessness
exposure to drug abuse and crime
mental health and behavioural problems
disengagement from education
limited or no social support

6. Responding to identified need
Children of adolescent parents at
greater risk of:
socio-economic disadvantage
being taken into statutory/foster care
homelessness
poor health and childhood fatality
behavioural problems
poor academic performance
becoming teenage parents themselves

7. Young Parents Program Young Parents Program aims to:
Reduce incidence of child abuse and neglect
Provide opportunities for young parents without skills and support to parent effectively
Facilitate family preservation
Reduce moves in care
Improve the safety and wellbeing of Australian children
Break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage

8. Young Parents Program Program model: Residential Outreach Aftercare
Education
Parentcraft
Volunteer support

9. Conceptual framework

10. Conceptual framework Child protection Child focussed Family centred
Strengths based
Client driven
Appropriate role modeling
Therapeutic environment

11. Conceptual framework Holistic Non-deficit Planned and intentional
Least intrusive
Staged, flexible and long term

12. Conceptual framework Reflective work practice
Multi-skilled, multi-disciplined team
Integrated service delivery
Partnerships and interagency relationships
Creating a community hub

13. Conceptual framework Therapeutic models: Bonding and Attachment
Child and Adolescent Development
Strengths Based Theory
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
“Social Capital” Theory
Motivational Interviewing
Self Monitoring and Evaluation

14. Young Parents Program

15. Residential

16. Young Parents Program - Residential
Intensive support for young mums under 19
24 hour supported accommodation
Case management
Most vulnerable/at risk
Statutory clients/restorations
Guided by OOHC guidelines and placement principles

17. Young Parents Program - Residential
DAY/TIME
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SAT
SUN
MORNING
8am
Wake Up
9am
House Meeting
9.30am
Chores complete
Morning Handover
Chores
10am-1pm
Education Session
10am-11.30am
Playgroup
10am
Hazel’s Group
11am
Room inspections
10am-11am
Tot Spot (fortnightly)
11.30am-1pm
Parent Education
AFTERNOON
5/6pm
curfew
1pm
Big Chore complete
5/6/8/10pm
(as arranged in adv. with CM)
5/6/8/10pm curfew
(as arranged)
5/6pm curfew
EVENING
7.30pm-9.30pm
Study with vol tutor
9.30pm

18. Young Parents Program - Residential

19. Outreach

20. Outreach Single parents and couples aged 16 to 25 Medium term housing
Case management
Home visiting
Participation in groups
Focus on developing increased independence & living skills

21. Outreach

22. Aftercare

23. Aftercare Support and referrals for parents up to age 25
Social network
Client driven
Aimed at maintaining independence

24. Aftercare

25. Education

26. Education Weekly study groups Facilitated by Education Officer
Supported by volunteer tutors
Child minding provided
Remedial and certificate courses
Linked with generic services eg TAFE, libraries, schools, universities

27. Education
“I left school when I was 13. I now realise that the kids that stayed at school have a better education than I do.”
“The program has helped me heaps to recognise my strengths.”

28. Education

29. Parentcraft

30. Parentcraft Parenting education groups Tot spot Play group
Parenting workbooks
Intensive parenting support
Staff education

31. Volunteering

32. Volunteering Trained volunteers
Community engagement and social responsibility
Role modeling and mentoring
Integral to success of program
Builds service capacity
90% volunteer retention rate

33. Volunteering Over 80 volunteers: Childminders Tutors Mentors
Driving buddies
Yoga and fitness trainers
Baby masseuse
Swimming instructor

34. Key challenges

35. Key challenges Holisitic nature of service Working with risk Housing
Working effectively with Indigenous families
Engaging young men

36. Key challenges Balancing act: Flexibility vs structure
Parent needs vs child needs
Maintaining trust and relationships while having honest and challenging conversations
Providing support without building reliance
Transparency with clients
Reflecting and learning as a worker

37. Key challenges

38. Evaluation

39. Evaluation Client feedback Daily case notes
Monthly/quarterly case reviews
Individual & group supervision for staff
OCG quarterly audits
Research partnership with Macquarie University

40. Dear Minister

41. Young Parents Program – Dear Minister
“I believe my experience of the program was life changing.”
“I was really reserved and did not feel like opening up to anybody.”
“I started to trust the people around me.”

42. Young Parents Program – Dear Minister
“This service is so important for young mothers and fathers who are serious about changing their way of life .”
“It’s helped me be the best young mother I can be to my daughter…so she does have a good life like every kid should have.”

43. Young Parents Program

44. Questions