Berry Street Web Docs Annual Report 2010 | Page 17

Helping children heal

through Take Two

Take two is a unique partnership between the Austin Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Service, La trobe University’s School of Social Work & Social
Policy, Mindful and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency. Established
in 2003, and accredited through the Australian Council on Healthcare
Standards, Take Two works with the children and young people who Child
Protection decides have suffered the greatest trauma from violence, abuse
and/or neglect.
Our skilled clinicians worked directly with 705 children, who were either
living in kinship, foster or residential care, or occasionally with a parent.
The job of our clinicians is to build a healing relationship with the child and
ensure that any family, carers or professionals involved, provide a consistent
approach.
It is pleasing that there is growing recognition from Government that most
children in Out of Home Care require a therapeutic response. Our clinicians
are working in partnership with 12 community service organisations across
Victoria to provide a therapeutic approach to a number of foster and
residential care services. It is critical that community service organisations
are granted the additional funding to ensure that all children who need a
therapeutic approach receive it.
In the Eastern Region, we successfully piloted a program which involved
local GPs in providing an initial health assessment for 43 children and
young people who were entering care for the first time. A comprehensive
assessment of a child’s physical and mental health is essential if they are
to receive the help they need. We urge the Government to extend this
successful program.

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