Kinship Care The Untold Story Lynne Graham & Karen Lizasoain Samaritans Foundation

Overview Scene setting – “stories Samaritans – fast facts What is Kinship Care - fast facts Samaritans Kinship Program Key Recommendations What has been achieved - “stories”

Samaritans Fast Facts One of Australia's largest regional welfare organizations Covers broad geographic area Diverse service base  Children Services  Youth Services  Community Services  Services for people with a disability Over 480 staff & 700 volunteers

Kinship Care Fast Facts Australian Figures show approx 23% of families use grandparents in their mix of child care arrangements. Samaritans Kinship Care service focuses on grandparent-headed families. Families in which the grandparent is the guardian of a child 0-17 ( both formal & informal care arrangements) For 2003 ABS estimates that 22,500 grandparent- headed families cared for 31,000 children 0-17

Fast Facts - continued Why & how are grandparent families formed?  Increase in placement of children & young people designated as “in need of care & protection”  Priority of placement in “kinship care” where the care giver is a family member  Some reasons for placement can include: Parents mental & physical health impairment Substance abuse and addiction Parental incarceration Relationship breakdown Death of a parent Financial implications – long term unemployment

Extrapolation of the facts.Kinship carers financial, legal, and social issues are often ignored. Kinship carers are important at and valuable members of the community who are not largely recognised by agencies and institutions. Governments need to recognise to acknowledge and recognise that this is a special groups requiring assistance. Kinship carers require parity with foster carers in terms of payment and support services for the children. Respite care is critical for the health of the family

Sams Kinship Care Program In May 2006 Samaritans was successful in being granted funding by FACSIA.This was originally a 2 year but has extended into a three year agreement The original aim of the project was to:  Identify kinship carers  Strengthen support to families and communities by highlighting kinship care issues, building partnerships with local services, addressing unmet needs  Support the development of effective parenting and relationships skills  Gain greater understanding about the impacts on carers and how best to support them in their roles as kinship carers

Strategies implemented included 1.Establishing kinship care support groups Improve networking abilities and parenting skills 2.Co-ordinating community based social events Ensuring connection 3.Liaising and networking with local service providers to raise awareness 4.Developing a referral and support role 5.Developing accessible and culturally relevant resources and information sources that reflect kinship carer requirements

Program fast facts Number of kinship carers identified139 Number of children in care arrangements178 Number of support groups established11 Number of workshops held5 Total number of carers who attended workshops173 Number of participants who benefited from above98% Number of social events held12 Number of project partners19

Key recommendations One stop shop – offering financial and legal advice Grandparents to be specifically recognised in family law and state legislation as having rights and status in relation to grandchildren Parity with foster carers including respite care Access to disability allowances for psychological and emotional trauma Kinship care services broadened to include specialist children's case workers