n Disability = health problem n 1980’s amalgamation of Disability Services in The Health Department with The Department of Community Services n Boundary problems within the service systems n 1996 research findings on the need for a whole of family approach n May 1998 ADD led an across government approach to Support Coordination

Individual & Family Support Early InterventionRespite Care Support Coordination Recreation Case Management Out of School Hours (OOSH) Vacation Care Post School Options & ATLAS Options Community Living Service-Outreach Rural Services NES - Northcott Equipment Service CATS - Computer Assistive Technology Services

n Family at risk of breakdown n Social and/or geographical isolation n Lack of appropriate housing/ risk of homelessness n Health of primary carer n Cultural disadvantage n Child/young person either excluded from or at risk of exclusion from age appropriate activities (school, respite, therapy services)

Jonathon Aged 14 Family history Mother’s disability History of DoC’s involvement Disability issues need sorting out No transition or Case Plan by DoC’s Threat of Juvenile Justice System Department of Housing threat of eviction No school transfer or behavioural management plan Alternate care arrangements breakdown

n New assessments arranged - medication revised n New school placement organised n Behavioural management plan coordinated between school and home n Referral to family support service for parenting support n Respite arranged with extended family n Housing transfer n Referral to Disability Recreation Service

n Independence n Dual focus on family dynamics and disability n Short term n Intensity n Whole of family orientation n Discretionary funding

‘’ Having Lisa as our caseworker was like a weight lifted off our shoulders’’ ‘’ I found it comforting that there was someone else asking questions, demanding answers and things I was afraid to ask or do’’

‘’ The project coordinator has been a strong and professional advocate for the interests of the family and has ensured that government and non-government agencies have met their responsibilities. I do not think we could have maintained our service without the project’s intervention’’. ‘’ I believe that the project provided good coordination of services and helped maintain families that would otherwise have fallen apart resulting in the children being taken into care’’

n ‘’Keeping children with disabilities safely within the family’’ n University of New South Wales 3 year research study n Northcott join in the last year in it’s efforts to secure objective evaluation

n Empowerment n Emotional Support n Parent - Child involvement n Child abuse potential n Family functioning n Outcomes n Hope and happiness

Local Support Coordination n 0-65 years n Focus on disability n Informal family & community supports n Prevention/early intervention n Run by DADHC Northcott’s Project n 0-18 years n Focus on family n Coordination across departments & services n Complex family problems n Independent stand alone service