An evaluation of a service to keep children safe in families with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coates, Dominiek; Howe, Deborah
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 24:Number 5(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 483
• Page End: 488
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: parental mental health -- child protection concerns -- service evaluation -- parental drug and alcohol problems -- risk of significant harm; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/1039856216634821
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate a specialised service designed to improve parenting capacity, child safety and family functioning in the context of parental mental health, drug and alcohol and child protection concerns. Method: Client data was collected over a period of 3 years and 3 months, including demographic characteristics, service usage, presenting issues and pre and post revised North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS-G) scores. Results: A significant improvement between intake and discharge occurred on the majority of the 58 NCFAS-G subscale items (32/58). In particular, most significant change occurred in the domains 'family safety' ( p < 0.001) and 'family interactions' ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: Specialised programs can assist families with child safety concerns suffering from mental health and/or drug and alcohol problems.