Government to teach parents how to raise children

**Miaow** · 17-01-2010 07:06

Government to teach parents how to raise children

From: AAP
January 17, 2010 1:06AM

GOVERNMENT workers will teach Victorian parents how to raise their children under a radical overhaul of the state's child protection system.

Over 50 new social workers will be hired as part of a pilot project to fix troubled homes and help struggling parents, the Sunday Herald Sun newspaper says.
The move comes after months of controversy surrounding the state government's handling of child services.
An ombudsman's report raised serious questions about the capacity of the department of human services to protect children, detailing cases where children were living with convicted sex offenders.
In September last year, state officials admitted they knew nothing of a case in which a woman was allegedly abused by her father for 30 years until it was featured in media reports.
Community Services Minister Lisa Neville is expected to announce the details of the parenting pilot project on Sunday, the paper says.
Under the plan, newly-hired social workers will spend up to a year teaching parents basic skills such as disciplining children, making healthy meals and managing school schedules.
"They may also help parents manage the family's budget,'' Ms Neville told the Sunday Herald Sun.
"Developing schedules for a new baby, safe sleeping arrangements, how to manage a toddler or a difficult adolescent and even how to play educational games with their kids are all activities the mentors can help families with.''
The parental workers will be trained in identifying family violence, substance abuse and mental health issues as well.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bre...-1225820440613

Brumby sends super nanny squad to help failing families

Peter Rolfe
From: Sunday Herald Sun
January 17, 2010 12:00AM

EXCLUSIVE: "SUPER nanny" parent inspectors will be sent into the homes of failing Victorian families to teach them how to look after their children properly.

In a radical overhaul of the state's child protection system, the Brumby Government will today announce a new squad of specially assigned staff to train mothers and fathers to be better parents. The taskforce will send experts into family homes for up to a year to offer advice, observe how family members interact and identify problems.
They will visit families as often as daily.
The state's most troubled parents will receive help under the mentoring scheme to start later this year.
Taskforce members - 50 in the first phase with more to come - will be briefed to identify family violence, post-natal depression, substance abuse and mental health issues.
A recruitment drive for staff with a background in social work, psychology, early childhood development and adolescent mediation will be launched in coming weeks.
Community Services Minister Lisa Neville said the specialist staff would visit daily then gradually less frequently.
"Some mums and dads need extra help," she said. "These specialist staff from the Department of Human Services will work intensively with struggling parents."
On the reality TV program Supernanny, a professional childcare expert helps parents with misbehaving children, discipline and maintaining order in households.
Ms Neville said the Government would try a similar approach, with families to be taught about buying and preparing healthy food, keeping their home safe and clean and ensuring children attend school, bath and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
"They may also help parents manage the family's budget," she said. "Developing schedules for a new baby, safe sleeping arrangements, how to manage a toddler or a difficult adolescent and even how to play educational games with their kids are all activities the mentors can help families with."
The Australian-first initiative, part of a $19.1 million package of pilot programs, will be tested in metropolitan and rural Victoria.
In extreme cases, where "feral" families cannot be helped, they will be referred to the Children's Court. Under Victorian law, parents have as little as a year to provide a stable environment before children are placed in state care.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bru...-1225820426910

**delirium** · 17-01-2010 07:45

This is nothing new. It's called early intervention and it's been in place for ages (although there still not enough). They aren't super nanny social workers, they are workers that look at minimising harm and teach better coping strategies with families identified by the dept as being 'at risk' of future harm and abuse.

I never thought an early intervention program would be portrayed as a bad thing (that's the vibe I got anyway from the super nanny inspector comment, maybe that's bc I hate SN

)

The role of early intervention is not punative, but that is how they are suggesting it is.

**WorkingClassMum** · 17-01-2010 07:47

About bluddy time!!!

Though I have reservations until I see it working

**Cicho** · 17-01-2010 07:48

Great idea for those who need it or who are identified as being in need of some guidance

May save some poor kids suffering at the hands of parents who have no idea

I know in the area in which I live.. population 100,000, there are 550 children in foster care

**delirium** · 17-01-2010 07:49

Originally Posted by WorkingClassMum

Though I have reservations until I see it working

The results from early intervention programs overall is quite good. The problem is the govt only wants to fund reactive programs, not pro active.

**kuddles** · 17-01-2010 07:59

It is awesome that they have hired more staff. I hope that it works.

Referring to them as super nanny's might not be the best way to approach it but I think it is an excellent, proactive start to getting child services back on track in VIC

**Hootenanny** · 17-01-2010 08:33

Thank goodness people can see this for what it is, a step in the right direction, help for those who need it, early intervention and not a forced govt intervention.

**Pippi Longstocking** · 17-01-2010 08:49

Originally Posted by delirium

This is nothing new. It's called early intervention and it's been in place for ages (although there still not enough). They aren't super nanny social workers, they are workers that look at minimising harm and teach better coping strategies with families identified by the dept as being 'at risk' of future harm and abuse.

I never thought an early intervention program would be portrayed as a bad thing (that's the vibe I got anyway from the super nanny inspector comment, maybe that's bc I hate SN

)

The role of early intervention is not punative, but that is how they are suggesting it is.

Yup, you just pretty much described my job description.

**~Temet Nosce~** · 17-01-2010 09:13

I think it is good, but how do they work out what families need help? Do they just do random drop ins? Tip offs from other people?

**delirium** · 17-01-2010 09:52

Well it can be a mixture of the family referring themselves, or a counsellor might. Also where the dept gets a notification, investigates, and finds there is no serious abuse to warrant removal but the family obviously needs some help.

It might be that the parents have a history of OTT smacking (note OTT), one of the parents is currently seeking help with drug use, or the couple are fighting constantly.

By nipping the issues in the bud, it is hoped it stops the family from having ongoing dept involvement which is a drain on the system financially and a stress to the family.