Forced adoption support services scoping study Daryl Higgins, Pauline Kenny, Reem Sweid and Lucy Ockenden Report for the Department of Social Services by the Australian Institute of Family Studies February 2014

128.11National vs jurisdictional specific

All services and information to be truly national and consistent.

vs

Allow for national coordination, and centralisation of access points, but with state/territory variation.

Some services are already nationally consistent (e.g., funding of mainstream services through Medicare, and additional funds through ATAPS).

Other services, such as state-funded post-adoption support services, are tailored to meet local circumstances—reflecting the differences in the laws around the country (relating to information release, contact and vetos, and processes such as registered mediators in WA), and the local networks of services, including variability in the locations and nature of peer-support groups.

The amount of resourcing that would be required to either introduce a new nationally consistent service (either by starting a new agency, or expanding the scope of existing national services such as Link Up or Find & Connect) is likely substantial, and given the time-limited nature of the funding, raises questions about the sustainability of any “new” service delivery mechanism. National coordination of existing services would be a more cost-efficient option, if an appropriate agency was identified to take on this role, and seen by stakeholders as having sensitivity and credibility:

providing additional funds to one of the existing state/territory-funded services might cause professional jealousies and tensions;

could be an independent agency that is commissioned to take on this role, or one that already plays a simlar role in a related field; and

might be able to be combined with other functions, such as knowledge translation and exchange.

The results of the service mapping suggests that given the breadth of existing service options, a more cost-effective and sustainable option is not to focus on any new national service, or even to expect national consistency, but rather focus on coordination and centralisation of access points, but with state/territory variation. However, where there are gaps identified, that the proposed local networks have a strategy to develop new services through a coordinated approach, to address the gaps. Key gaps include, for example, where there are no options for services other than from an agency currently involved in adoptions, or providing services to adoptive parents, meaning some mothers feel excluded and/or risk re-traumatisation.

These tensions reflect the high level of complexity evident in the service delivery arena within which services for those affected by forced adoption and past removal practices currently operate. The service model options outlined in Chapter 10 respond in a comprehensive way to the issues raised by stakeholders in the current Scoping Study. However, it is in the implementation that many of the challenges will emerge. Therefore, it is important to consider the principles of good practice that were developed from the literature (see Chapter 4, and Attachment G), and were endorsed by workshop participants as being the best way of enhancing and expanding the current supports for mothers, adopted individuals, and their families.

129References

Allan, A., Allan, M., Kaminer, D., & Stein, D. (2006). Exploration of the association between apology and forgiveness amongst victims of human rights violations. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 24(1), 87–102.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Posttraumatic stress disorder [Fact sheet]. Retrieved from

Anders, S., Frazier, P., & Frankfurt, S. (2011). Variations in Criterion A and PTSD rates in a community sample of women. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(2), 176–184.

Andersson, G. (2009). Using the internet to provide cognitive behaviour therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 175–180.

Andersson, G., Bergstrom, J., Hollandare, F., Carlbring, P., Kaldo, V., & Ekselius, L. (2005). Internet-based self-help for depression: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 456–461.

Androff, D. (2010). Truth and reconciliation commissions (TRCs): An international human rights intervention and its connection to social work. British Journal of Social Work, 40(6), 1960–1977.

ARCS (2003–2013). “About us.” WA: ARCS. Retrieved from

Armstrong, S., Ormerod, T., & Young, A. (2005). Intermediary services in post adoption reunion: A resource and training guide for counsellors assisting in family reunion. Paddington: Post Adoption Resource Centre, Benevolent Society.

Arthur, E., Seymour, A., Dartnell, M., Beltgens, P., Poole, N., Smylie, D., et al. (2013). Trauma-informed practice guide. Retrieved from

Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. (2007). Health, Trauma & Mental Health: Treatment. Melbourne: Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. Retreived from

Australian Government. (2013). Australian Government response to the Senate Community Affairs References

Committee Report: Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices. Canberra: Australian Government. Retrieved from

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2005). AIHW submission to the Inquiry into Adoption of Children from Overseas. Submission 135. Retrieved from

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2010). Adoptions Australia 2009–10, (Child Welfare series No. 50). Cat. no. CWS 38. Canberra: AIHW. Retrieved from

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2013). Adoptions Australia 2012–13, (Child Welfare series No. 57). Cat. no. CWS 47. Canberra: AIHW

Baehr, E., Rosenfeld, J., & Baehr, R. (2001). Clinical use of an alpha asymmetry neurofeedback protocol. Journal of Neurotherapy, 4(4), 11–18.

Barak, A., & Grohol, J. (2011). Current and future trends in internet-supported mental health interventions. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 29, 155–196.

Barak, A., Hen, L., Boniel-Nissim, M., & Shapira, N. A. (2008). A comprehensive review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2), 109–160.

Barrera, T., Mott, J., Hofstein, R., & Teng, E. (2012). A meta-analytic review of exposure in group cognitive behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(1), 24–32.

Barrowcliff, A., Gray, N., MacCulloch, S., Freeman, T., & MacCulloch, M. (2003). Horizontal rhythmical eye movements consistently diminish the arousal provoked by auditory stimuli. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 42(3), 209–302.

Beidel, D., Frueh, C., Uhde, T., Wong, N., & Mentrikoski, J. (2011). Multicomponent behavioral treatment for chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(2), 224–231.

Bisson, J., Ehlers, A., Matthews, R., Pilling, S., Richards, D., & Turner, S. (2007). Psychological treatments for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 190, 97–40.

Bloch, S., & Singh, B. (2010). Foundations of clinical psychiatry (3rd ed.). Carlton: Melbourne University Press.

Bradley, R., Greene, J., Russ, E., Dutra, L., & Westen, D. (2005). A multidimensional meta-analysis of psychotherapy for PTSD. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(2), 214–227.

Briere, J. N., & Scott, C. (2013). Principles of trauma therapy: a guide to symptoms, evaluation and treatment (2nd edn. ed.). California: SAGE Publications, Inc.