Health Family Relationships Program (HFRP)
The HFRP is a collaborative interagency early intervention program that works with the whole family early in their arrival to support and provide advice to the family, particularly in terms of family relationship issues and family breakdowns.
New refugee families from the Logan area were finding that Australian attitudes and legislation towards gender, rights and roles were considerably different to those from their prior experience.
Families were experiencing difficulties with coming to terms with Australian parenting practices as they were in contrast to those of their country of origin, issues with their children and loss of cultural identity and intergenerational issues. This resulted in children being removed and placed into care because of perceived abuse or neglect, domestic/family violence.
Consultations were held with Refugee community elders, local community services and government agencies. It was identified that there were no services in the local area that were culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive to meet the client’s needs. It was decided that a partnership was needed where the community would benefit from the expertise of specialist services being delivered. The partnership consisted of a Domestic Violence Service, Fami
Clients engaged throughout the program groups and there was limited absenteeism, the program started at 6.00pm and finished at 8.00pm. There was honest, open and transparent communication all through the group session to ensure safe and positive therapeutic experiences for the participants. The program was adjusted through out the life of the programs as was deemed necessary by the steering committee.
The program effectively achieved the aim of reinforcing positive family functioning; building self confidence and self reliance and their understanding of Australian culture and legislative systems.
Clients gained an awareness of the effect of relationship conflict on their families, feelings associated with anger and insight into the events that lead to violence. Developed skills to resolve conflict that does not involve violence. Encouraged families to seek assistance from main stream agencies and developed main stream agencies ability to work with CALD clients. Further developed long term collaborative relationships with agencies based on trust, mutual confidence and a deeper understanding of the skills, capacities and strengths of collaborative partnerships.
To further continue the program, promote the results of the program, to assist other agencies to meet needs of clients by sharing of data etc
Looking for other funding options to continue.
Read more:
Submitted by:
Niki Gooch
Settlement Grants Manager
ACCES Services Inc
92 Wembley Road, Woodridge, QLD, 4114
ph:07 3412 8222
email: nikig@asi.org.au
web: www.asi.org.au
Categories:
Categories:Children and Families, Community Development, Women, Youth
Themes:Family, early intervention, women, men, youth, primary aged children
Release Date:22-Jun-2009
Date of Study:22-Jun-2009
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