Annual Report 2010 - Berry Street
Annual Report 2010 - Berry Street
Annual Report 2010 - Berry Street
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Helping children heal<br />
through Take Two<br />
Take two is a unique partnership between the Austin Child and Adolescent<br />
Mental Health Service, La trobe University’s School of Social Work & Social<br />
Policy, Mindful and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency. Established<br />
in 2003, and accredited through the Australian Council on Healthcare<br />
Standards, Take Two works with the children and young people who Child<br />
Protection decides have suffered the greatest trauma from violence, abuse<br />
and/or neglect.<br />
Our skilled clinicians worked directly with 705 children, who were either<br />
living in kinship, foster or residential care, or occasionally with a parent.<br />
The job of our clinicians is to build a healing relationship with the child and<br />
ensure that any family, carers or professionals involved, provide a consistent<br />
approach.<br />
It is pleasing that there is growing recognition from Government that most<br />
children in Out of Home Care require a therapeutic response. Our clinicians<br />
are working in partnership with 12 community service organisations across<br />
Victoria to provide a therapeutic approach to a number of foster and<br />
residential care services. It is critical that community service organisations<br />
are granted the additional funding to ensure that all children who need a<br />
therapeutic approach receive it.<br />
In the Eastern Region, we successfully piloted a program which involved<br />
local GPs in providing an initial health assessment for 43 children and<br />
young people who were entering care for the first time. A comprehensive<br />
assessment of a child’s physical and mental health is essential if they are<br />
to receive the help they need. We urge the Government to extend this<br />
successful program.<br />
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