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Practice paper
What is infant mental health, why is it important, and how can it be supported?
Dr Kristel Alla and Dr Trina Hinkley (AIFS)All infants experience mental health, and infancy is a critical time for children to build strong confidence and security in their environment, so that they can develop positive emotional, social, physical and mental health. This paper produced by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) aim to raise awareness in practitioners who work with infants and/or their caregivers and ways to support parents and caregivers when early signs of problems appear if their infant is struggling with their mental health. -
Webinar
Webinar | What is infant and child mental health and why is it important for all practitioners to think about it
Child Family Community Australia & Emerging MindsThis webinar featured Brad Morgan, Emerging Minds’ Director, and Helen Francis, Emerging Minds’ National to Local Manager, who described how Emerging Minds works across sectors to identify effective practice, and to support practice development that improves the early identification and prevention of child mental health issues. -
In focus
In focus: What is infant and child mental health (and why is it important)?
Emerging MindsPractitioners are in a unique position to provide support to parents and help plan for children's social and emotional development and mental health at the earliest possible stage. This resource aims to develop your knowledge about what is child mental health and how practitioners and health workers in both child and adult services can create opportunities for positive child mental health. -
Practice paper
Recognising and strengthening the stories of children in care
Nicole Rollbusch and Dan MossThis paper identifies practical ways professionals working with children who are in care can bring children’s histories to life in ways that support their sense of identity and confidence, even when children’s experiences with their birth families included trauma or neglect. -
Guide
Practice principles for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children in out-of-home care
Hilary Miller and Kristel Alla, Australian Institute of Family StudiesThis practice guide uses learnings from Australian and international research to build practitioner awareness of approaches to support the mental health and wellbeing of children in out-of-home care (OOHC). It outlines principles that may be useful to guide practice when supporting children in OOHC. -
Fact sheet
What type of programs improve the mental health outcomes of children in out-of-home care?
Hilary Miller and Kristel Alla, Australian Institute of Family StudiesExplore the most common types of programs that aim to improve mental health outcomes for children in out-of-home care (OOHC) and the evidence for overall program types -
Short article
Supporting children with disability in out-of-home care (OOHC)
Hilary Miller, Mandy Truong and Kristel Alla, Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)This resource provides an overview of the over-representation of children with disability in out-of-home care (OOHC) in Australia. It may be relevant for people working in child protection, including care workers, social and youth workers, mental health professionals, and disability, health and allied health practitioners. -
Short article
What factors predict long-term mental health for children in out-of-home care?
Catherine WadeThis short article summarises a recent paper which examines how key child and family characteristics predict long-term mental health for children in out-of-home care. -
Fact sheet
One Talk at a Time: Child sexual abuse: Get the facts
National Office for Child SafetyThis resource from the National Office for Child Safety (NOCS) includes foundational information about child sexual abuse. The resource contains statistics to learn more about child sexual abuse and helps to dispel common myths and misconceptions, and help people understand the role they can play in protecting children and young people. -
Website
One Talk at a Time: Having conversations
National Office for Child SafetyThis toolkit from the National Office for Child Safety has been designed to help adults have preventative conversations about child sexual abuse with children and young people, other adults and organisations. -
Short article
How fathers’ warm and responsive parenting can support child mental health
Melissa Willoughby (AIFS), Cat Strawa (AIFS), Vincent Mancini (Telethon Kids Institute, UWA and The Fathering Project) & Hilary Miller (AIFS)This resource will explore the evidence on how fathers can positively influence their child’s mental health through warm and responsive parenting. -
Short article
How fathers can support child mental health through setting limits and managing behaviour
Melissa Willoughby (AIFS), Cat Strawa (AIFS) & Vincent Mancini (Telethon Kids Institute, UWA and The Fathering Project)This resource outlines how fathers’ approaches to setting limits and managing behaviour can affect child mental health. It also provides considerations for practitioners to support effective practice with fathers and other caregivers.