16 September 2022
Member News
Dear Families ACT members,
This update provides information about the Safe and Connected Youth Program launch, our advocacy work and our new sector development website.
Official Safe and Connected Youth Program launch
Last week, Families ACT attended the official launch of the Safe and Connected Youth Program which provides therapeutic outreach support to children, young people (8-15 years of age) and their families who are experiencing family conflict and where there is a risk of youth homelessness. The program is run by the Conflict Resolution Service (CRS) in partnership with Marymead. Will and Yvonne enjoyed meeting CRS staff and visiting the program’s residential therapeutic respite premises. Significant funds have been spent on co-designing a comfortable, light-filled environment to meet the needs of young people in residence. To access the program, young people can self-refer or be referred. You can either call CRS on (02) 6189 0590 or fill out their referral form.
Advocacy Update
Child and Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Network Planning Day
On 13 September, Yvonne attended a Planning Day hosted by ACT Government, Capital Health Network (CHN) and the Youth Coalition of the ACT to design a new network for child and youth mental health programs and services. The establishment of a network including the development of an action plan flow from the findings of the Understanding the ‘Missing Middle’: Children and young people with moderate to severe mental health concerns who experience difficulties accessing services project report. The Planning Day brought together key stakeholders to consider the essential elements required for such a network to function effectively, its priorities, intended outcomes and measures of success. We will keep you updated on the progress of this important work.
Commissioning
Work on the commissioning of the CYFSP has been on hold while CSD selects and convenes a reference group which will develop a sector engagement process. The CYFSP Directors’ group requested this step as a more time efficient way of running the commissioning and Will was approached to assist with the selection process for the reference group.
ACT Domestic and Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework now available
The framework outlines a common approach to understanding domestic and family violence. It builds a shared understanding of the nature of domestic and family violence and provides a common language for describing it. It also establishes a common approach to screening, assessing and managing domestic and family violence risk. For more information, go to the Community Services Directorate website.
Sector Development
NEW Families ACT webpage listing all our sector development work
We are excited to announce that we have created a new webpage listing all the training and sector development we provide and facilitate. Updates and new training will be continually added, and we encourage you to have a look at what’s on offer for the rest of this year.
Best wishes,
Yvonne Gritschneder
comms@familiesact.org.au
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