CARE

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation cares for children who experience or witness serious violence. We support their recovery from trauma in order to minimise the ongoing impact of the violence on their future.

Click on the links below to learn more about our programs:

For assistance or more information on our Care programs, please contact the Foundation on 03 1300 720 747 or email care@amf.org.au

Intensive Support Program

The Intensive Support Program is an exciting and innovative new program developed by The Alannah and Madeline Foundation that provides a proactive, holistic case-management for children who are suffering the effects of serious violence.

The aim of the Intensive Support Program is to facilitate recovery from trauma and negative adjustment to violence, and build resilience for children so they can create healthy productive and happy futures for themselves. In addition to the experience of violence, many children referred to The Foundation have suffered family breakdowns, lost significant relationships and struggle to manage the complicated emotional adjustment required.

All  children participating in the Individual Support Program will have their needs comprehensively assessed and, in partnership, an individually designed care plan to address their particular needs will be developed.   Each service area within the Intensive Support Program has been designed specifically to target significant areas in children’s lives and development.  While the program initially provides intensive supports, these are tapered off over a period of 12 to 18 months.  Following completion of the program, an ongoing relationship is fostered and maintained with the child until they reach 18 years of age.

 The ISP is different from other case-management programs working with families in that the specific needs of the child remain central in the program delivery, thus addressing a gap in service delivery for families where serious violence features.  Where other services are already linked in and supporting the family, the ISP will work in collaboration with these.

The Intensive Support Program has now commenced taking referrals. 

Self referrals or referrals from agency workers are accepted.

Intake criteria
The ISP is NOT a crisis intervention, therefore we request that there is no current child protection involvement and that the family have stable housing.

• Child aged between 5-15 years of age
• The child has no existing case-manager
• Child is currently in a safe, stable environment
• Family is willing and able to commit to participating in the program.

If you are interested in finding out further information about the Intensive Support Program please contact Alannah and Madeline Foundation and request to speak to the ISP program worker or email care@amf.org.au.

Refuge Therapeutic Support Program – applications now open

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation has launched a new program to support children entering domestic violence refuges.  10 grants of $5,000 are available for a range of group therapeutic programs for children residing in domestic violence refuges across Australia. 

The purpose of the Refuge Therapeutic Support Program is to assist refuges in providing therapeutic intervention for children who may be distressed or traumatised by their family situation as soon as possible after they have been removed to safety.

The funding will pay for qualified and skilled therapists, identified by refuges, to run fortnightly group therapeutic sessions that have been specifically designed for children who have experienced significant violence in the home.  A range of group therapeutic strategies would be considered including: art, pet and music therapy, and psychotherapy groups.  Refuges are able to determine the mode of therapeutic group to be offered.

Eligibility
In order to be eligible for small grant funding through this program, Refuges need to:

• Identify and employ a suitably qualified therapist.  Therapist qualifications include this (or equivalent): 
  • Music Therapists completed a degree from the Australian Music Therapy Association
  • Art Therapist completed a qualification from ANZATA
  • counsellor to have completed a University qualification in Psychology or Social Work
  • All therapist will have completed a course that covers Children and Violence (therapists will have three months to complete this following program commencement)
  • The Foundation will require resume and certified copies of qualifications of therapists with the application.  (If this is not possible, please contact Lucy to discuss).
• Be able to supply a suitable room or venue to conduct regular group therapeutic sessions
• Be responsible for managing therapists, including scheduling and payment.
• Ensure that therapeutic groups occur regularly as planned
• Fully comply with program evaluation requirements.   Evaluation will include six-monthly evaluative questionnaires to be completed by the Refuge Manager and the Therapist.  (For further information, please contact Lucy).  Refuges will be asked to demonstrate the success of the program including the impact of the therapy on the children.

Australian refuges are invited to apply for 12 month program funding of $5,000. Click here to download the application form. 

For more information contact the Care Team on (03) 9697 0611 or email care@amf.org.au

For assistance or more information on our Care programs, please contact the Foundation on 03 1300 720 747 or email care@amf.org.au