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Hooker, L., Toone, E., Raykar, V., Humphreys, C., Morris, A., Westrupp, E., & Taft, A. (2019). Reconnecting mothers and children after violence (RECOVER): a feasibility study protocol of child–parent psychotherapy in Australia. BMJ Open, 9(5), e023653.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract:

Introduction
Intimate partner violence detrimentally affects the social and emotional well-being of children and mothers. These two populations are impacted both individually and within the context of their relationship with one another. Child mental health, maternal mental health and the mother–child relationship may be impaired as a consequence. Early intervention to prevent or arrest impaired mother–child attachment and child development is needed. Dyadic or relational mental health interventions that include mothers with their children, such as child–parent psychotherapy, are effective in improving the mental health of both children and mothers and also strengthening their relationship. While child–parent psychotherapy has been trialled overseas in several populations, Australian research on relational interventions for children and women recovering from violence is limited. This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of implementing child–parent psychotherapy in Australian families.

Methods and analysis
Using a mixed methods, prepost design this feasibility study will examine the acceptability of the intervention to women with preschool aged children (3–5 years, n=15 dyads) and providers, and identify process issues including recruitment, retention and barriers to implementation and sustainability. In addition, intervention efficacy will be assessed using maternal and child health outcomes and functioning, and mother–child attachment measures. Young children’s mental health needs are underserviced in Australia. More research is needed to fully understand parenting in the context of intimate partner violence and what works to help women and children recover. If the intervention is found to be feasible, findings will inform future trials and expansion of child–parent psychotherapy in Australia.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval obtained from clinical sites and the La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: HEC17-108). Results will be disseminated through conference proceedings and academic publications.

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Researchers: Hooker, L., Toone, E., Raykar, V., Humphreys, C., Morris, A., Westrupp, E. & Taft, A.

Year: 2019

Andrews, S., Gallant, D., Humphreys, C., Ellis, D., Bamblett, A., Briggs, R., & Harrison, W. (2018). Holistic programme developments and responses to Aboriginal men who use violence against women. International Social Work.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract: Family violence significantly impacts upon Aboriginal women and children globally. Despite this fact, there is a scarcity of published knowledge regarding the nature and efficacy of Aboriginal programmes for men who use violence against women. This article reports the findings from interviews with 15 facilitators of Australian Aboriginal men’s healing, fathering and family violence programmes. From these interviews, we have developed a conceptual model of working with Aboriginal men. It accommodates the collective, generational and individual trauma of both perpetrator and victim, while privileging gendered accountability for violence as a central tenet to the work.

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Researchers: Andrews, S., Gallant, D., Humphreys, C., Ellis, D., Bamblett, A., Briggs, R. & Harrison, W.

Year: 2018

Fogden, L., Kertesz, M. and Humphreys, C. (2018). Mothers in Mind: Independent Evaluation 2016-17. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract:

The Children’s Protection Society (CPS) provides support services to vulnerable families and children living in the North East Melbourne metropolitan area. In 2016, CPS started to run Mothers in Mind, a group program for mothers and young children who have experienced family violence and separated from the perpetrator. This program was developed by the Child Development Institute in Canada, and has been evaluated over a number of years in Canada. In early 2017, CPS contracted Department of Social Work at the University of Melbourne to carry out an evaluation of the Mothers in Mind (MIM) program, to include programs run in Term 3 2016, Term 4 2016, Term 2 2017 and Term 4 2017. The program due to run in Term 4 2017 was cancelled.

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Researchers:
Fogden, L., Kertesz, M & Humphreys, C.

Year: 2018

Pfitzner, N., Humphreys, C., & Hegarty, K. (2018). Engaging Men as Fathers: How Gender Influences Men’s Involvement in Australian Family Health Services. Journal of Family Issues, 39(16), 3956–3985.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Title: Engaging Men as Fathers: How gender influences men’s involvement in Australian Family Health Services

Despite claims of “new” and “involved” fathers, research shows men’s actual fathering practices remain relatively unchanged. Increasing attention is being paid to the influence of child and family services on father engagement with calls from researchers and practitioners for a game change in parenting interventions. In this article, we draw on case study data to examine how gender impacts on maternal and child health services’ engagement with new fathers in respectful relationships programs. Our analysis shows that gender shapes men’s fathering and consequently their involvement in programs that seek to engage men as fathers. These gendered behaviors intersect with the practices, policies, and orientation of the Maternal and Child Health Service. The findings hold important implications for designing strategies to engage men in family services.

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Researchers: Pfitzner, N., Humphreys, C. & Hegarty, K. (2018).

Year: 2018

Humphreys, C., Healey, L., Kirkwood, D. & Nicholson, D. (2018). ‘Children Living with Domestic Violence: A Differential Response through Multi-agency Collaboration’, Australian Social Work

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract: Developing appropriate pathways to assist children living with domestic and family violence (DFV) is challenging, particularly given the rise in police notifications to Child Protection (CP) relating to exposure to domestic violence. In this article, the argument is put that strong collaboration between organisations can provide a differential response in which only those children requiring an investigation are referred into CP, while all other children and their families are diverted to community-based organisations. This is foundational for the development of a more ethical and supportive response to children and their families living with DFV. The article draws on findings from a case study of the Multi-Agency Triage project in Melbourne, which developed through a collaborative risk assessment process a differential response to manage referrals of children living with DFV. The case study drew from observations of the triage, nine interviews, and analysis of administrative data.

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Researchers: Humphreys, C., Healey, L., Nicholson, D. & Kirkwood, D.

Year: 2018

Heward-Belle, S., Humphreys, C., Laing, L. & Toivonen, C. (2018). Intervening with children living with domestic violence: Is the system safe? Australian Social Work, 71, 135-147.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract:This article examines cross-sector relationships that facilitated or impeded effective responses to women and children experiencing domestic violence. It reports on the findings of a study of 54 Australian professionals working in either statutory child protection, family law, or domestic violence and community services. Qualitative data gathered from focus groups with participants is the research base for this article. The study found that overwhelmingly the focus group participants described myriad policies and practices in the public sphere that could compound the impact of men’s violence against women in the private sphere.

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Researchers: Heward-Belle, S., Humphreys, C., Laing, L. & Toivonen, C.

Year: 2018

Healey, L., Humphreys, C., Tsantefski, M., Heward-Belle, S., Chung, D., & Mandel, D. (2018). Invisible Practices: Intervention with fathers who use violence: Key findings and future directions (Research to policy and practice, 04/2018). Sydney, NSW: ANROWS.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract:

The review of the literature (Humphreys & Campo, 2017, p.5) found that there was “no single definitive approach to intervention” in working with fathers who remain in the home or have significant contact with their children. Humphreys and Campo (2017, p.2), did, however, identify the following key messages:
• Very little evidence exists of effective, safe practice where there is DFV and mothers and fathers remain living together, or when they are co-parenting a children.
• A range of different responses have been developed from different areas of the service system to respond to families living with DFV, including nurse visitors, couple counselling, restorative justice, CP and whole of family approaches with vulnerable families.
• Where services have been developed, there are generally stringent conditions that support safety for all parties, including workers, when working with fathers who use violence.
• Whole of family approaches that engage each member of the family where there is DFV and focus on parenting represent emerging practice, with some promising developments.
• Workforce development is critical in an area where skilled work is essential to support the safety and wellbeing of all involved.

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Healey, L., Connolly, M., & Humphreys, C. (2018). A collaborative practice framework for child protection and specialist domestic and family violence services: bridging the research and practice divide. Australian Social Work, 71(2), 228-237.

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Abstract: Practice frameworks bridge the divide between research and practice. This paper shows how the translation of research into policy and practice led to the development of a practice framework to foster greater collaboration between child protection (CP) and specialist domestic and family violence (DFV) services. The framework supports safety for adult and child victims and raises the standard of accountability for fathers who use violence. In researching the challenges of collaborative work between CP and DFV services, this framework developed from a parallel collaborative process involving researchers, practitioners, and policy representatives from government and nongovernment organisations across five Australian states.

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Researchers: Healey, L., Humphreys, C. & Connolly, C

Year: 2018

Humphreys, C., Healey, L., & Mandel, D. (2018). Case reading as a practice and training intervention in domestic violence and child protection. Australian Social Work, 71(3), 277-291.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract: This article explores the role of a case-reading tool, developed by the Safe and Together Institute, deployed across five Australian states, and which engaged workers from child protection (CP) and specialist domestic and family violence (DFV) services. It aimed to assess the extent to which DFV is identified in CP case files and to assess the quality of case practice from a DFV-informed perspective, as documented in the case file. The Safe and Together approach to child welfare provides a robust foundation upon which practitioners from statutory and nonstatutory backgrounds can work collaboratively and reach consensus about how best to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children living with DFV. The case reading is both a process of transformative working for practitioners and an analytical tool through which their agencies can affect systemic change.

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Researchers: Humphreys, C., Healey, L. & Mandel, D

Year: 2018

Healey, L., Humphreys, C., Tsantefski, M., Heward-Belle, S., & Mandel, D. (2018). Invisible practices: Intervention with fathers who use violence (Research report, 04/2018). Sydney, NSW: ANROWS.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2019 ,

Abstract:

This project had its genesis in the need to develop effective and safe ways of working with fathers who use violence in order to better support women and children living with domestic and family violence (DFV). The DFV system, in particular, specialist women’s DFV services, developed
from interventions focused largely on supporting women and children living with DFV to separate from men who use violence. Separation has also been a key priority for the statutory child protection (CP) system that has often required women to leave violent men for the sake of the children, in spite of the danger and likely impoverishment of doing so, for many women and their children.
At the same time, family law with its “pro-contact culture” (Humphreys & Campo, 2017, p.5) presents potentially dangerous situations for adult and child victims/survivors alike in supporting fathers’ involvement with children despite their use of DFV (Hester, 2011). Further, intervention with men who use violence and control occurs mostly through justice responses and/or specialist men’s behaviour change programs (MBCPs) neither of which focus on fathering issues. While significant intervention with fathers occurs through CP and generic family service programs, workers’ practice with fathers who use DFV and control is neither documented nor evidence-based in the way it has occurred, for example, with MBCPs. In other words, to date, the nature of these practice interventions have been largely “invisible”.

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