Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T14:53:57.204Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Attachment security, early childhood intervention and the National Disability Insurance Scheme: a risk and rights analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2019

Stacey Lynne Alexander Open the ORCID record for Stacey Lynne Alexander [Opens in a new window] ,
Margarita Frederico Open the ORCID record for Margarita Frederico [Opens in a new window]  and
Maureen Long
Stacey Lynne Alexander*
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy and Social Work and Social Policy, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Margarita Frederico
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy and Social Work and Social Policy, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Maureen Long
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy and Social Work and Social Policy, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Stacey Lynne Alexander, Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

To promote the rights, well-being and development of the child, and for the benefit of families and the community, attachment should be a central focus of early childhood intervention (ECI) under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). ECI Key Workers have the opportunity to positively influence parent–child relationships and are encouraged to do so by the ECI national guidelines. This article identifies how elements of the NDIS design and implementation may be counterproductive to fostering attachment security in children. These elements can lead to delayed intervention; increased parental stress; reduced expertise of service providers; and financial disincentives for best practice in working with disadvantaged families. The article highlights the implications for children with a disability and their families in Australian society and identifies lessons for the design and implementation of social policy.

Keywords

Attachmentchildrendisabilityearly interventionSOCIAL policy
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 187 - 193
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Alexander, S., & Forster, J. (2012). The key worker: Resources for early childhood intervention professionals. Malvern, VIC: ECII.Google Scholar
Alexander, S., Frederico, M., & Long, M. (2018). Attachment and children with disabilities: Knowledge and views of early intervention professionals. Children Australia, 43(4), 245–254. doi: 10.1017/cha.2018.38 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, A., Barbaro, J., Maybery, M., Ward, S. L., Sullivan, K. A., & Gilmore, L. (2016). Practitioner perceptions of the assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia. Australian Psychologist, 51(4), 272. doi: 10.1111/ap.12211 Google Scholar
Anderson, S. E., Gooze, R. A., Lemeshow, S., & Whitaker, R. C. (2012). Quality of early maternal-child relationship and risk of adolescent obesity. Pediatrics, 129(1), 132. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-0972 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2012). Australian social trends. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features30Jun+2012 Google Scholar
Baker, B., McIntyre, L., Blacher, J., Crnic, K., Edelbrock, C., & Low, C. (2003). Pre-school children with and without developmental delay: Behaviour problems and parenting stress over time. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47(4–5), 217–230. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2788.2003.00484.x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Belsky, J., & Fearon, P. (2002). Infant–mother attachment security, contextual risk, and early development: A moderational analysis. Development and Psychopathology, 14(2), 293–310. doi: 10.1017/S0954579402002067 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonyhady, B. (Producer). (2016). Every child with a disability every chance. [Speech to Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL)].Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1982a). Attachment (Vol. 1, 2nd ed.). New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1982b). Loss, sadness and depression (Vol. 3). New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1982c). Separation, anxiety and anger (Vol. 2, 2nd ed.). New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bricout, J., Porterfield, S., Tracey, C., & Howard, M. (2004). Linking models of disability for children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 3(4), 45–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carlson, E., Sampson, M., & Sroufe, L. (2003). Implications of attachment theory and research for developmental-behavioral pediatrics. Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics, 24(5), 364–379.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2016). Applying the science of child development in child welfare systems. Retrieved from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/child-welfare-systems/ Google Scholar
Crawford, T., Cohen, P., Chen, H., Anglin, D., & Ehrensaft, M. (2009). Early maternal separation and the trajectory of borderline personality disorder symptoms. Development and Psychopathology, 21(3), 1013–1030. doi: 10.1017/S0954579409000546 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
CREATE Foundation. (2012). Supporting children and young people with a disability living in out-of-home care in Australia. Retrieved from create.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/03-CREATE-Research-Article_CYP-With-A-Disability-Living-in-OOHC_August-2012.pdf Google Scholar
Dunst, C. (2007). Early Intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. In Odom, S., Horner, R., Snell, M. & Blacher, J. (Eds.), Handbook of developmental disabilities. New York: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Eardley, T., & Matheson, G. (1999). Australian attitudes to unemployment and unemployed people. Retrieved from http://library.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/303/1/SPRC%20Discussion%20Paper%20No%20102.pdf Google Scholar
Early Childhood Intervention Australia. (2016). National guidelines: Best practice in Early Childhood Intervention. Retrieved from https://www.ecia.org.au/Resources/National-Guidelines-for-Best-Practice-in-ECI Google Scholar
Emerson, E. (2003). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with and without intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47(1), 51–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emerson, E. (2004). Poverty and children with intellectual disabilities in the world’s richer countries. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 29(4), 319–338. doi: 10.1080/13668250400014491 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eshbaugh, E., Peterson, C., Wall, S., Carta, J., Luze, G., Swanson, M., & Jeon, H. (2011). Low-income parents’ warmth and parent-child activities for children with disabilities, suspected delays and biological risks. Infant and Child Development, 20(5), 509–524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Executive Office of the President of the United States. (2014). The economics of early childhood investments. Retrieved from https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/the_economics_of_early_childhood_investments.pdf.Google Scholar
Facompré, C. R., Bernard, K., & Waters, T. E. A. (2018). Effectiveness of interventions in preventing disorganized attachment: A meta-analysis. 30(1), 1–11. doi: 10.1017/S0954579417000426 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fawcett, B., & Plath, D. (2014). A national disability insurance scheme: What social work has to offer. British Journal of Social Work, 44(3), 747–762. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcs141 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forster, J. (2017). Development of community-based services for children with disabilities and their families. In Sukkar, H., Dunst, C., & Kirkby, J. (Eds.), Early intervention: Working with families of young children with special needs. London and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Froehlich-Grobe, K., & Lollar, D. (2011). Obesity and disability. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 41(5), 541. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.07.015 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Groh, A., Fearon, P., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M., Van Ijzendoorn, M., Steele, R., & Roisman, G. (2014). The significance of attachment security for children’s social competence with peers: A meta-analytic study. Attachment & Human Development, 16(2), 103–136. doi: 10.1080/14616734.2014.883636 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Groh, A., Roisman, G., van Ijzendoorn, M., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M., & Fearon, P. (2012). The significance of insecure and disorganized attachment for children’s internalizing symptoms: A meta-analytic study. Child Development, 83(2), 591–610. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01711.x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hodapp, R. (2013). Parenting children with mental retardation. In Bornstein, M. (Ed.), Handbook of parenting volume I: Children and parenting (2nd ed.): Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.Google Scholar
Holland, T., Clare, I. C. H., & Mukhopadhyay, T. (2002). Prevalence of criminal offending by men and women with intellectual disability and the characteristics of offenders: Implications for research and service development. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 46(1), 6–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Howe, D. (2006). Disabled children, parent–child interaction and attachment. Child and Family Social Work, 11, 95–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humphries, C., & Kiraly, M. (2009). Baby on board: Report of the infants in care and family contact research project. Retrieved from https://www.pcafamilies.org.au/uploaded-files/Baby-on-board-research_1327276346.pdf Google Scholar
Mackenzie, M., Cologon, K., & Fenech, M. (2016). ‘Embracing everybody’: Approaching the inclusive early childhood education of a child labelled with autism from a social relational understanding of disability. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 41(2), 4–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Main, M., & Solomon, J. (1986). Discovery of a new, insecure-disorganized/disoriented attachment pattern. In Brazelton, T. & Yogman, M. (Eds.), Affective development in infancy (pp. 95–124). Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex.Google Scholar
Malone, U. (2017). Disability providers are 'barely scraping through’ says peak body, wearing costs of 'flawed’ NDIS system. ABC News online. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-04/disability-sector-under-financial-strain-due-to-delays-in-ndis/9218754 Google Scholar
May, T., Roberts, J., Webber, M., Spreckley, M., Scheinberg, A., Forrester, M., & Williams, K. (2018). Brief history and user’s guide to the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 54(2), 115. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13748 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McArthur, M., Thomson, L., Winkworth, G., & Butler, K. (2010). Families’ experiences of services. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University Retrieved from https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/op30.pdf.Google Scholar
Mercer, J. (2011). Attachment theory and its vicissitudes: Toward an updated theory. Theory & Psychology, 21(1), 25–45. doi: 10.1177/0959354309356136 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, T. (2012). Foreword. In The key worker: Resources for early childhood intervention professionals. Malvern, VIC: ECII.Google Scholar
Moore, T. (2013). Teamwork in early childhood intervention services: Recommended practices. Retrieved from https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/ccchdev/CCCH-Teamwork-in-ECI-Services-NDIS-version.pdf.Google Scholar
Moore, T., Arefadib, N., Deery, A., & West, S. (2017). The first thousand days: An evidence paper. Retrieved from apo.org.au/system/files/08431/apo-nid108431-436656.pdf Google Scholar
Naber, F., Swinkels, S., Buitelaar, J., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M., Ijzendoorn, M., Dietz, C., … Engeland, H. (2007). Attachment in toddlers with autism and other developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(6), 1123–1138. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0255-2 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2017). NDIA 2016-17 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/publications/annual-report/annual-report-2016-17.Google Scholar
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2018a). NDIA 2017-2018 Annual Report. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/Stace/Downloads/PB%20Annual%20Report%202017-18%20PDF%20(2).pdf.Google Scholar
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2018b). NDIS Price Guide 2018/19. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/Stace/Downloads/PB%20201819%20Price%20Guide%20NSW%20Qld%20Vic%20Tas%20Feb2019%20PDF%20(1).pdf.Google Scholar
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2018c). Report to the COAG Disability Reform Council for Q3 of Y5. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/Stace/Downloads/QR%20Q3%20201718%20Report%20COAG%20PDF%20(1).pdf.Google Scholar
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2018d). Report to the COAG Disability Reform Council for Q4 of Y5 Full Report. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/Stace/Downloads/QR%20Q4%20201718%20COAG-report-Full%20PDF%20(1).pdf.Google Scholar
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2019). Access to the NDIS – Early Intervention. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/operational-guidelines/access-ndis-operational-guideline/access-ndis-early-intervention-requirements Google Scholar
Noah’s Ark Inc. (2017). Submission to the productivity commission inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) costs. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/215674/sub0108-ndis-costs.pdf Google Scholar
Oppenheim, D., Koren-Karie, N., Dolev, S., & Yirmiya, N. (2012). Maternal sensitivity mediates the link between maternal insightfulness/resolution and child–mother attachment: The case of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Attachment & Human Development, 14(6), 567–584. doi: 10.1080/14616734.2012.727256 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perry, B. (2004). Maltreatment and the developing child: How early childhood experience shapes child and culture. Retrieved from http://www.lfcc.on.ca/mccain/perry.pdf Google Scholar
Perry, B. (2013). Bonding and attachment in maltreated children. Retrieved from https://childtrauma.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Bonding_13.pdf Google Scholar
Pipp-Siegel, S., Siegel, C. H., & Dean, J. (1999). Neurological aspects of the disorganized/disoriented attachment classification system: Differentiating quality of the attachment relationship from neurological impairment. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 64(3), 25–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Popp, T. K., & Wilcox, M. (2012). Capturing the complexity of parent-provider relationships in early intervention: The association with maternal responsivity and children’s social-emotional development. Infants & Young Children, 25(3), 213–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ranasinghe, T., Jeyaseelan, D., White, D., & Russo, R. (2017). Parents’ experiences in registering with and accessing funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme for early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 53(1), 26. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13312 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rees, C. (2005). Thinking about children’s attachments. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 90(10), 1058–1065. doi: 10.1136/adc.2004.068650 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rusby, J., & Tasker, F. (2008). Childhood temporary separation: Long-term effects of the British evacuation of children during World War 2 on older adults’ attachment styles. Attachment & Human Development, 10(2), 207–221. doi: 10.1080/14616730802113737 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schore, J., & Schore, A. (2008). Modern attachment theory: The central role of affect regulation in development and treatment. Clinical Social Work Journal, 36(1), 9–20. doi: 10.1007/s10615-007-0111-7 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sroufe, L. (2005). Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. Attachment and Human Development, 7(4), 349–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sullivan, P., & Knutson, J. (2000). Maltreatment and disabilities: A population-based epidemiological study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 24(10), 1257–1273.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tharner, A., Luijk, M. P. C. M., Van Ijzendoorn, M. H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Jaddoe, V. W. V., Hofman, A., … Tiemeier, H. (2012). Infant attachment, parenting stress, and child emotional and behavioral problems at age 3 years. Parenting, 12(4), 261–281. doi: 10.1080/15295192.2012.709150 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Towell, N. (2015). Fear of violence stalks front-line public service workers. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/public-service/fear-of-violence-stalks-frontline-public-service-workers-20150422-1mqorq.html Google Scholar
UNICEF. (2014). A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf Google Scholar
van Ijzendoorn, M., & Kroonenberg, P. (1988). Cross-cultural patterns of attachment: A meta-analysis of the Strange Situation. Child Development, 59(1), 147–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vaughn, B., Goldberg, S., Atkinson, L., Marcovitch, S., MacGregor, D., & Seifer, R. (1994). Quality of toddler-mother attachment in children with Down Syndrome: Limits to interpretation of Strange Situation behavior. Child Development, 65(1), 95–108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Workgroup on Principles and Practices in Natural Environments, & Settings, O. T. C. o. P. P. C. (2008). Seven key principles: Looks like/Doesn’t look like. Retrieved from http://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/topics/families/Principles_LooksLike_DoesntLookLike3_11_08.pdf Google Scholar
Yeung, W., Linver, M., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2002). How money matters for young children’s development: Parental investment and family processes. Child Development, 73(6), 1861–1879.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zeanah, C. H., & Smyke, A. T. (2008). Attachment disorders in family and social context. Infant Mental Health Journal, 29(3), 219–233. doi: 10.1002/imhj.20176 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed