Cairns Community Health Centre - 381 Sheridan St, North Cairns

Community Child Youth and Family Health Service

All referrals are to be sent to the Child and Youth Access Unit Ph: 42260047

Email:

Early Intervention Service

The Early Intervention staff within the Community Child Youth and Family Team comprises of both Social Workers and Psychologists.

The Early Intervention staff focus on evidence based-assessments and interventions with parents and caregivers whose children are antenatal to 8 years of age. Social Work services are also offered to families whose children are 0-18yrs. Intervention is provided to parents with babies as a priority with parenting issues in the mild to moderate range. Services focus on early intervention where there is a clear parenting, relationship or behavioural component.

Examples of interventions include:

·  Caregiver/maternal/paternal mood disorder

·  Adjustment to parenting

·  Caregiver – infant/child attachment relationship

·  Child Behaviour /Parenting strategies

·  Parenting cases of high complexity

·  Parenting strategies for children with social-emotional difficulties

·  Grief & loss

Parenting Groups offered

Circle of Security

At times all parents feel lost or without a clue about what their child might need. Imagine what it might feel like if you were able to make sense of what your child was really asking from you. The Circle of Security® Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened.

Using the COS-P model developed by the Circle of Security originators, Facilitators work with parents and care-givers to help them to:

• Understand their child’s emotional world by learning to read emotional needs

• Support their child’s ability to successfully manage emotions

• Enhance the development of their child's self esteem

• Honour the innate wisdom and desire for their child to be secure

This program is offered via several group programs planned throughout the year as well as well as 1:1 individual if required. Interventions run for 8 weeks. All parents are required to attend a COS Intake interview to determine eligibility as well as the most suitable access point to the service.

Positive Parenting – Triple P

The Positive Parenting Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs, backed up by more than 30 years of ongoing research. TripleP gives parents simple and practical strategies to help build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage children’s behaviour and prevent problems developing.

“Positive Parenting is an approach to parenting which aims to promote children’s development and manage children’s behaviour in a constructive and non-hurtful way”.

Triple P is delivered in both a Group and Seminar format, as well as 1:1 if required. Groups run for 4 weeks for approx. 2 hours and whilst Seminars are one off for 2 hours.

Referral Considerations

When referring to Early Intervention Parenting Specialist (EIPS) it is important to consider the following information:

1.  Are parents aware of and consenting to the EIPS referral?

2.  Does the presenting problem clearly relate to (or impact on) parenting and/or attachment? If not, alternative referral options should be considered

3.  Therapeutic interventions are with parents, i.e. the team does not provide therapy for children individually

Accessing the Service

Clients may self-refer or be referred by service providers in the government and non-government sectors.

Referrals will be discussed and allocated in accordance with the identified need.

All Referrals are to be sent to the Child and Youth Access Unit on: Phone: 07 4226 0047

For Tablelands and Cassowary Coast Referrals: Phone: 0419 026 381

For Early Years Centre Referrals: Phone: 07 4034 6800

Attached Flyers