Including the family: Working with young people in Out of Home Care.

Children, youth and families services Wesley is a major service provider of 'out of home care', including: Foster Care (also known as home-based care) Kinship Care Residential Care

The importance of family The importance of family and family relationships has become increasingly recognised in outcomes for children, including a greater understanding of which family characteristics have the most significant impact. Research findings include: The quality of parenting is the most highly significant influence on positive child development(Masten & Shaffer 2006, Zubrick et al 2008). Parenting styles measuring high in hostility and low in warmth and consistency, even where subtle, and within the ‘normal’ range of parenting behaviours, will negatively impact on child outcomes (Zubrick et al 2008).

Child outcomes are shaped by the degree to which parents define limits, enforce rules and monitor behaviour, balanced with support for age- appropriate autonomy (Luthar 2006). Family processes (parenting style high or low in warmth, level of conflict between parents) have more influence on a child’s current and future wellbeing than family structure (number,gender or sexuality of parents) (Amato & Fowler 2002, Burke, McIntosh & Gridley 2007). Children from separated families are at significantly greater risk of poor outcomes, with risks persisting into adulthood. However, poor outcomes often exist before separation, indicating that other indicators of long-term disadvantage are already in place for these children (Pryor & Rodgers 2001). Fathers’ involvement in child development and growth is important, both directly and through supporting the mother (Berlyn, Wise & Soriano 2008, Fletcher 2008).

Attachment and maltreatment Positive attachment relationships between parents/caregivers and children are considered crucial to development. Sensitive and responsive caregiving from the primary attachment figure (usually the mother) builds a secure child-caregiver relationship and promotes optimal physical, behavioural, social and emotional development. This includes a greater capacity for emotional regulation, positive social interactions and better coping skills. Attachment to caregivers is fundamental, through influencing learning, reactions to threat, exploration and as a regulatory mechanism, for example, comforting a scared child.

Children and Trauma Children and young people who are consistently in an ‘alarmed’ state as a result of trauma are less efficiently absorbing cognitive content, but more efficiently absorbing relational content. As such, they are more likely to be seen as impulsive or disengaged in classrooms and other settings, leading to negative reactions from authority figures. School is often the first place where signs of trauma are noticed, so a greater understanding of managing child behaviour from a trauma perspective is needed. Encopresis (involuntary defecation) and enuresis (involuntary urination) as a result of trauma can also cause problems and stigmatise the child at school. One response to trauma is a mental ‘escape’ (dissociation), a mechanism by which a person withdraws attention from the outside world and focuses within (Hellett & Simmonds, 2003)

practice Patterns of intergenerational trauma should be included in assessments, because many children will have parents and other family members with their own trauma history. This family history is vital information in analysing and planning how we can help the child. Case example.