Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T16:48:10.910Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

How to Work with Complex Families in Regional Tasmania: Putting Theory into Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2016

Priscilla E. Best  and
Ebony J. Lambie
Priscilla E. Best*
Affiliation:
Anglicare Tasmania Inc., Burnie, Australia
Ebony J. Lambie
Affiliation:
Anglicare Tasmania Inc., Burnie, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Priscilla E. Best, Anglicare Tasmania Inc. 6 Strahan Street, Burnie, 7320, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper explores the complexities of how to get our families who are often in a chaotic state of surviving (emotionally, psychologically, and physiologically) to the point where they can process psychoeducation, develop parenting skills, and implement strategies to care for children in enduring ways and to feel successful in their everyday lives. This exploration led us to ponder two questions:

  1. 1. What are “good” working relationships?

  2. 2. How do these relationships benefit the families we work with?

To explore these questions further, we turn to a fuller body of research on Attachment Theory and Polyvagal Theory that gives a better understanding and comprehension of incorporating these theories into practice. This paper attempts to illustrate how the workers in the North-West Early Start Therapeutic Support programme delivered by Anglicare Tasmania develop good working relationships with families and how this translates to providing enduring care for their children.

Keywords

complex familiesattachmentfelt safetytrauma
Type
Practice-Based Commentaries
Information
Children Australia , Volume 41 , Special Issue 4: A FOCUS ON REGIONAL AND RURAL CONTEXTS , December 2016 , pp. 297 - 304
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

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

Australian Electrol Commission. (2016). Profile of the electoral division of Braddon Tasmania. Retrieved from http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/tas/braddon.htm.Google Scholar
Becker-Weidman, A., Ehrmann, L., & LeBow, D. H. (2012). The attachment therapy companion: Key practices for treating children and families. New York: W.W Norton & Company.Google Scholar
Butler, K., McArthur, M., Thomson, L., & Winkworth, G. (2012). Vulnerable families' use of services: Getting what they need. Australian Social Work, 65 (4), 571–585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, March 28). Injury prevention and control: Division of violence prevention. Retrieved from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/index.html.Google Scholar
Coates, D., & Howe, D. (2015). Working with Families who experience parental mental health and/or drug and alcohol problems in the context of child protection concerns: Recommendations for service improvement. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 36, 325–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horwitz, M., & Marshall, T. (2015). Family engagement in child protection social work. Journal of Family Social Work, 18, 288–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katz, I., Spooner, C., & Valentine, K. (2006). What interventions are effective in improving outcomes for children of families with multiple and complex problems. Sydney: Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth.Google Scholar
Kids Come First - Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). Kids come first: Update. Hobart: Tasmanian Government.Google Scholar
Lambie, E. (2016, April 29). Personal Communication.Google Scholar
Porges, S. W. (2015). Making the world safe for our children: Down-regulating defence and up-regulating social engagement to ‘optimise’ the human experience. Children Australia, 40 (2), 114–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Preyde, M., Cameron, G., Frensch, K., & Adams, G. (2011). Parent-Child relationships and family functioning of children and youth discharged from residential mental health treatment or a home-based alternative. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 28 (1), 55–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimer, E. C. (2014). Using friendship to build professional family work relationships where child neglect is an issue: Worker perceptions. Australian Social Work, 67 (3), 315–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schore, J. R., & Schore, A. N. (2008). Modern attachment theory: The central role of affect regulation in development and treatment. Journal of Clinical Social Work, 36, 9–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, D. J. (2015). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are (2nd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Sroufe, A. L. (2005). Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. Attachment & Human Development, 7 (4), 349–367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tamanaina Government - Economic Analysis Unit. (2016, June 15). Regional population growth. Retrieved from Department of Treasury and Finance, Tasmania. Retrieved from https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/dtf/dtf.nsf/LookupFiles/Regional-Population-Growth.pdf/$file/Regional-Population-Growth.pdf.Google Scholar
Tronick, E. (2009, November 30). Still face experiment: Dr. Edward Tronick. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0.Google Scholar
Watson, J. (2005). Active engagement: Strategies to increase service participation by vulnerable families. Department of Community Services. Sydney: NSW Centre for Parenting and Research.Google Scholar