Berry Street Web Docs Annual Report 2010 | Page 15

An elderly woman was subject to attacks from her violent adult son, who had substance use and mental health issues. The woman refused to have her son excluded from the property and there were grave fears for her safety. With our advocacy and support, a personal alarm was installed and she now knows she can call for help should she need it. Angie was pregnant with her second child when she was referred by Child Protection to our Family Services program in the North & West. A refugee and sole parent without family and community support, Angie was so desperate that she thought she should relinquish her baby. Our staff recognised that Angie had many strengths. They slowly earned her trust and helped her build her confidence and find people who could support her. A grant from our Positive Memory Bank enabled Angie to purchase some books and toys reflective of her culture. Two years on, Angie is working part-time, the children are progressing well and there is no need for Child Protection involvement. 14 Maintaining Relationships We know that maintaining important family relationships is critical for the child to develop and understand ‘who they are’. Our three Children’s Contact Services (in Richmond, Shepparton and Watsonia) supervised access or assisted with changeovers of 431 children from 362 families. Each of the Contact Services is designed to be a welcoming and safe place, where we can maximize the opportunity for the child to have a positive time with their non-residential parent. Wherever possible, we help parents learn how to manage their access themselves. However, the mental health issues of an increasing number of parents means that we may need to stay involved for a longer period of time. In Shepparton, we also run education sessions for parents post separation and a groupwork program for children to help them deal with the impact of their parents’ separation.