Integrating Culture into Child Mental Health and Forensic Assessments and Case Formulations
Tracks
Online
| Monday, October 24, 2022 |
| 11:05 AM - 11:25 AM |
Overview
Craig Heron, Mandy Douch & Juana Katzer - Queensland Health
Speaker
Mandy Douch
Senior Social Worker
The Forensic Child & Youth Mental Health Services
Integrating Culture into Child Mental Health and Forensic Assessments and Case Formulations
Abstract
The numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Out-of-Home Care and Youth Justice systems nationally have steadily increased over the last ten years . Increasingly these children require mental health and forensic services for assessment and counselling. In Queensland, these services are provided by Evolve Therapeutic Services (ETS) and Forensic Child and Youth Mental Health Services (FCYMHS). While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make up only 4.6% of the Queensland population, they account for 45% and 48% of all children referred to ETS and FCYMHS respectively . Hence, integrating culture into their assessments and case formulations is vital. However, challenges to achieving this include low levels of cultural competence of non-Indigenous staff; ineffective and inconsistent cultural training; a lack of culturally appropriate assessment tools; low resource allocation, and tokenistic cultural support . Excluding cultural factors from assessments and formulations compromises the outcomes for our children and risks perpetuating trauma onto the next generation.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at ETS and FCYMHS developed strategies that incorporate models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health. This has been a catalyst for change in thinking about the role of culture in children’s assessment, formulation and diagnosis. Fundamental to this change has been the promotion of the SEWB model across ETS and FCYMHS.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at ETS and FCYMHS developed strategies that incorporate models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health. This has been a catalyst for change in thinking about the role of culture in children’s assessment, formulation and diagnosis. Fundamental to this change has been the promotion of the SEWB model across ETS and FCYMHS.
Biography
Mandy identifies as a proud Koori Yuin/NGARIGO woman from Southern NSW, she is an Advanced Social Worker and has many years’ experience working at Centrelink and within the Child Safety Sector as Recognised Child Safety Officer, Cultural Consultant for CYMHS Evolve Therapeutic Services and currently at Forensic CYMHS.
Mandy has a strong passion and vision for working collaboratively with Non-Government Organisations and communities to support vulnerable children, young people, their families and communities and to build community self-reliance from a Community Development perspective. Mandy does outreach to the Courts and communities of Cherbourg and Woorabinda.
Mr Craig Heron
Indigenous Program Coordinator
Queensland Health
Integrating Culture into Child Mental Health and Forensic Assessments and Case Formulations
Abstract
The numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Out-of-Home Care and Youth Justice systems nationally have steadily increased over the last ten years . Increasingly these children require mental health and forensic services for assessment and counselling. In Queensland, these services are provided by Evolve Therapeutic Services (ETS) and Forensic Child and Youth Mental Health Services (FCYMHS). While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make up only 4.6% of the Queensland population, they account for 45% and 48% of all children referred to ETS and FCYMHS respectively . Hence, integrating culture into their assessments and case formulations is vital. However, challenges to achieving this include low levels of cultural competence of non-Indigenous staff; ineffective and inconsistent cultural training; a lack of culturally appropriate assessment tools; low resource allocation, and tokenistic cultural support . Excluding cultural factors from assessments and formulations compromises the outcomes for our children and risks perpetuating trauma onto the next generation.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at ETS and FCYMHS developed strategies that incorporate models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health. This has been a catalyst for change in thinking about the role of culture in children’s assessment, formulation and diagnosis. Fundamental to this change has been the promotion of the SEWB model across ETS and FCYMHS.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at ETS and FCYMHS developed strategies that incorporate models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health. This has been a catalyst for change in thinking about the role of culture in children’s assessment, formulation and diagnosis. Fundamental to this change has been the promotion of the SEWB model across ETS and FCYMHS.
Biography
I am a man of Aboriginal and South Sea Islander heritage. A descendant of the Birri Gubba Nation in Nth Queensland and connections to Vanuatu. I have over twenty years of working in Queensland Health and the majority of that time working in mental health services (adult and child and youth). During this time I have been developing, implementing, promoting, and training clinical staff to better contextualise the reality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers presentation to mental health services. I have been applying the cultural lens to all our clinical services utilising the Social and Emotional Wellbeing model as the foundation.
Juana Katzer
Avolve Therapeutic Services
Integrating Culture into Child Mental Health and Forensic Assessments and Case Formulations
Abstract
The numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Out-of-Home Care and Youth Justice systems nationally have steadily increased over the last ten years . Increasingly these children require mental health and forensic services for assessment and counselling. In Queensland, these services are provided by Evolve Therapeutic Services (ETS) and Forensic Child and Youth Mental Health Services (FCYMHS). While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make up only 4.6% of the Queensland population, they account for 45% and 48% of all children referred to ETS and FCYMHS respectively . Hence, integrating culture into their assessments and case formulations is vital. However, challenges to achieving this include low levels of cultural competence of non-Indigenous staff; ineffective and inconsistent cultural training; a lack of culturally appropriate assessment tools; low resource allocation, and tokenistic cultural support . Excluding cultural factors from assessments and formulations compromises the outcomes for our children and risks perpetuating trauma onto the next generation.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at ETS and FCYMHS developed strategies that incorporate models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health. This has been a catalyst for change in thinking about the role of culture in children’s assessment, formulation and diagnosis. Fundamental to this change has been the promotion of the SEWB model across ETS and FCYMHS.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at ETS and FCYMHS developed strategies that incorporate models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health. This has been a catalyst for change in thinking about the role of culture in children’s assessment, formulation and diagnosis. Fundamental to this change has been the promotion of the SEWB model across ETS and FCYMHS.
Biography
Juana Katzer is a Papua New Guinean woman of Tolai and Kuot descent. She is a Social Worker and Psychotherapist currently working as a Senior Cultural Consultant at Evolve Therapeutic services. Juana has focussed her career on child protection issues, with a particular interest in child mental health, sexual and domestic violence. Juana has provided social work and psychotherapeutic services to individuals, families, and communities in Aboriginal and multicultural communities in Australia and international context.
Juana holds Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Social Work and a Masters of Social Work. Juana is a current Doctor of Social Work candidate.
