Working with Vulnerable Families: A Partnership Approach

by Edited by Fiona Arney , Dorothy Scott , Foreword by Fiona Stanley

• ISBN13: 9780521744461
• ISBN10: 0521744466
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Working with Vulnerable Families embodies the universal edict - that for societies to flourish we must enhance the opportunities for our children to reach their physical, intellectual, emotional and social potential. For families facing issues of marginalisation, poverty, domestic violence, drug and alcohol dependence or mental illness, such ideals can seem particularly daunting. In a thoroughly candid and engaging style, this groundbreaking text transcends narrow professional boundaries to demonstrate how those working in diverse health, education and social welfare settings can work collaboratively with one another and with parents to protect, nurture and support young children from birth to 8 years. The book draws together a broad range of research-based theory, practice wisdom and successful real-world exemplars to explicate the core values, knowledge and skills required when working with families with multiple and complex needs.

Author Biography

Dr Fiona Arney is Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia. Professor Dorothy Scott is the Foundation Chair of Child Protection and the Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
List of figures, tables and boxes	p. xi
Contributors	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xix
Introduction	p. 1
Think child, think family, think community	p. 7
Family strengths: an international perspective	p. 29
Harnessing 'resilience' when working with children and families	p. 49
Working within and between organisations	p. 71
Family-centred practice in early childhood settings	p. 91
Sustained nurse home visiting with families of Aboriginal children	p. 109
Including fathers in work with vulnerable families	p. 135
Parenting in a new culture: working with refugee families	p. 157
Responding to parents with complex needs who are involved with statutory child protection services	p. 187
Engaging family members in decision making in child welfare contexts	p. 209
Supporting parents whose children are in out-of-home care	p. 227
Using evidence-informed practice to support vulnerable families	p. 247
Spreading promising ideas and innovations in child and family services	p. 275
Index	p. 297
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