New framework planned to boost permanency for NSW children
Giving more children and young people a permanent home is the goal of a new practice framework project the Parenting Research Centre is leading with the University of Sydney Institute of Open Adoption Studies.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice has commissioned our two organisations to co-design the framework with selected community services providers in NSW.
The end result of our project will be a blueprint for working with parents and carers. This will help parents and carers develop skills and confidence to improve permanency outcomes for children and young people.
Permanency Support Program
We will work with providers who are currently delivering the Permanency Support Program. This program provides tailored services to vulnerable children so that they can grow up in stable, secure and loving homes.
“We are energised and excited by the prospect of making a significant difference to children and families through this project,” said Annette Michaux, the Parenting Research Centre’s Director of Policy and Practice.
“We are looking forward to building great new partnerships with our University of Sydney colleagues, the Department and the service providers selected to participate in the process.”
Choosing service providers
A Department tender selection process will determine which service providers will co-design and test the new practice framework. The project will run over the next two years.
Two trial sites will be established this financial year. If they are successful, further trial sites will operate in 2020-21.
“Carer-child relationships that help children heal and enhance their development are critical to achieving better outcomes around permanency,” Ms Michaux said
“To provide this level of parenting in the face of many challenges, parents and carers need the right skills, resources and confidence. This is where active coaching when working with carers comes in. But for coaching to be effective, practitioners need to form collaborative, trusting and intentional relationships.”
Coaching is key
Coaching to achieve adult behaviour change is central to the practice frameworks we have developed using our PracticeWorks method. This is an approach that helps organisations adopt evidence-based practice in ways that make sense to them.
“We’re eager to apply all we’ve learned in co-designing practice frameworks to this important project in NSW,” Ms Michaux said.
Learn more
- Read about our PracticeWorks method
- Follow the discussion on evidence based practice at our recent Practice Reimagined events
- See how we have co-developed practice frameworks in other organisations