BERRY STREET CHILDHOOD INSTITUTE
Some of the highlights include :
J J In education , we are integrating knowledge of the impact of trauma on young people ’ s neurodevelopment with best practice around sciences of wellbeing , strengths based and positive psychology . All our lesson plans and classroom activities now incorporate patterned , repetitive and rhythmic activities which help the students regulate their behavior and ready their brain for learning .
J J Developing and advocating nationally for a new model of support , education and training for foster parents , we developed ‘ I care 2 ’, a resource for foster parents and a supervision and support practice guideline
J J Through support of the Tony Williams Foundation , developed and piloted a program in Morwell Primary School , which uses patterned repetitive activities throughout the day to help children learn . La Trobe University is evaluating the program
J J Following a paper we commissioned from Richard Rose on best practice internationally in breaking the cycle of family violence , we developed and piloted a groupwork program for boys who have grown up in families where family violence is the norm
J J We are determined that all young people who leave care have a safe place to live , access to education or employment and connection to an adult . It is not right that young people who have experienced profound trauma and abuse are expected to become independent when they leave State care at 15 , 16 or 17 . Legislation should enshrine support until these young people turn 25 . We researched the best models internationally and have secured $ 850,000 from the Lord Mayor ’ s Charitable Fund and Potter Foundation to pilot a program based on the UK government ’ s model of support for care leavers
J J Instinctively we all know the importance of a good beginning in life . The evidence of the lifelong impact of early life experience , both good and bad , is overwhelming . With the great support of a private foundation , we changed the focus of our ELF program from community reading days to ELF Play and Learn Groups with the South Sudanese , Karen and Afghan refugee communities and another group of vulnerable parents in Gippsland . Through our bicultural workers , these groups engage mothers and their pre-school children in intentional child development activities which respect and build on the language , culture , traditional play and child rearing practices of refugee communities . Over 155 families and 206 children meet weekly in primary schools or maternal and child health centres in Dandenong , Fitzroy , Morwell and Werribee . The program is being evaluated by the Murdoch Children ’ s Research Institute , but already the enjoyment , learning and strengthened bond between mother and child are evident .
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