2002 International International Biennial Scientific Meeting

AN EVALUATION OF AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE RELATIONSHIP BASED APPROACHES AT TRESILLIAN FAMILY CARE CENTRES

Cathrine Fowler*, Catherine McMahon**, Nick Kowalenko***, and Christine Rossiter*

* Tresillian Family Care Centres, Sydney
** Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney
*** Child and Adolescent Services Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney

cathrine@email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Objectives: This paper will discuss the evaluation results of two workshops. The first workshop aimed to deliver a whole of organisation program to encourage Tresillian staff to explore the connection between sensitive caretaking behaviours and the development of attachment relationships. The staff were then encouraged to apply this attachment framework to their clinical work with parents and infants.

The second workshop aimed to develop a brief intensive education program for staff involved in a new initiative of providing increased support through home visiting to a high-risk group of mothers in the first postnatal year. The key focus of this workshop was to extend the application of a relationship based approach to a home visiting early intervention program designed to support and promote sensitive parenting by mothers who have been identified as 'at risk'.

Methods: Staff attending the workshops were asked to complete pre and post workshop evaluation questionnaires and then a further questionnaire at 3 months post workshop. The questionnaires measured pre knowledge, learning outcomes and ability to apply new knowledge and skills.

Results: The initial results demonstrate a high level of satisfaction with both workshops and for many nurses, psychologists and social workers the affirmation of their clinical approach to working with families. The 3 month post workshop responses demonstrate the importance of management support when implementing a new clinical practice approach.

Conclusion: Education regarding relationship based approaches has provided Tresillian staff with effective tools for working with parents and their young children both within Tresillian and as part of the Tresillian Home Visiting Intervention Project.