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Change and Recovery: Culturally Appropriate Early Childhood Programmes with Refugee Families and Communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2015

R. G. Signorelli Open the ORCID record for R. G. Signorelli [Opens in a new window] ,
M. Coello  and
S. Momartin
R. G. Signorelli*
Affiliation:
STARTTS, Clinical Services - Senior Early Childhood Counsellor / Project Officer, PO Box 203, Fairfield, New South Wales, 2165, Australia
M. Coello
Affiliation:
STARTTS, Clinical Services and Research Coordinator, Fairfield, New South Wales, 2165, Australia
S. Momartin
Affiliation:
STARTTS, Clinical Services Team - Research Officer, Fairfield, New South Wales, 2165, Australia
*
address for correspondence: R. Signorelli, STARTTS, Clinical Services - Early Childhood, PO Box 203, Fairfield, New South Wales, 2165, Australia. Phone: 02 9794 1900; Fax: 02 9794 1910. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The STARTTerS Early Childhood Programme at the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) has been developed in response to the complex refugee experiences of very young children, their families and communities. This biopsychosocial and systemic model is informed by neuroscience, attachment theory and current knowledge of the nature and impact of refugee-specific trauma on very young children and their families. It addresses the complex interactions between, social, cultural and political factors within the trauma and recovery environments, as they influence the clients’ presentations and the choice of interventions with families in cultural transition (FICT).

This paper provides a background to the STARTTerS programme, and reports on the results of a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project with the Karen and Mandaean refugee communities. It explores perceptions and cultural views of signs and symptoms related to early childhood trauma. It also explores help seeking preferences in relation to the recovery, settlement and health needs of families with young children. This research has led to ongoing collaborative and consultative processes with those communities, resulting in the development of services and referral systems, which will build a comprehensive and culturally appropriate early childhood programme.

Keywords

Early childhoodrefugeestraumabiopsychosocialsystemiccollaboration
Type
Conference Proceedings
Information
Children Australia , Volume 40 , Issue 3: INTERPRETING NEUROSCIENCE, CREATING EVIDENCE - A COLLECTION OF AUSTRALIAN BASED TRAUMA INFORMED RESEARCH AND PRACTICE , September 2015 , pp. 195 - 204
Copyright
Copyright © STARTTS 2015 

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