mental health nurses; clinical social workers; child/family welfare workers in services funded by the Department of Social Services’ Family Support Program and other Australian Government agencies—including psychologists, social workers, family therapists, counsellors, and other welfare workers; social support and human services funded by the state and territory governments; and aged care professionals and service provider organisations (as many mothers and fathers are now reaching their 70s and 80s). B. Expand, enhance and build capacity in existing post-adoption support services Within existing post-adoption specific support services, the following have been identified by stakeholders as agencies or service types that should be the target of service enhancements: state/territory-funded Adoption Information Services; peer-support groups; agencies providing supports for people searching for or making contact with family (including formal intermediary services); and the government agencies with whom these other services intersect (e.g., Births Deaths and Marriages registries (BDM), Australian Electoral Commission, state child protection departments, Australian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Health). C. Developing new—and improving existing—resources for professional development and training For all service providers and agencies covered under A and B options above (i.e., mainstream health/mental health and social services, as well as existing post-adoption specific support services), the following resources, training materials and opportunities for professional development were suggested: specific training of post-adoption workers, and general awareness and sensitivity training for broader service providers; resources for agencies such as developing Good Practice Guidelines, evaluation resources, etc.; regular conferences for post-adoption practitioners, which are also open to mainstream practitioners who find themselves working with people affected by forced adoptions; empathy/sensitivity awareness training for officers in information agencies—particularly BDM; and brokerage funding, or grants scheme to enhance capacity of existing agencies and support groups. D. Increasing accessibility and coordination through development of a national web portal Options canvassed in workshops and consultations included community-based service hubs, one-stop-shops, case management, and a national website. The literature recommends case management for clients who are experiencing severe symptoms, particularly when their symptoms inhibit them from functioning in everyday life or attending scheduled appointments. For these clients, case management helps to aid the effective organisation and delivery of
mental health nurses; clinical social workers; child/family welfare workers in services funded by the Department of Social Services’ Family Support Program and other Australian Government agencies—including psychologists, social workers, family therapists, counsellors, and other welfare workers; social support and human services funded by the state and territory governments; and aged care professionals and service provider organisations (as many mothers and fathers are now reaching their 70s and 80s). B. Expand, enhance and build capacity in existing post-adoption support services Within existing post-adoption specific support services, the following have been identified by stakeholders as agencies or service types that should be the target of service enhancements: state/territory-funded Adoption Information Services; peer-support groups; agencies providing supports for people searching for or making contact with family (including formal intermediary services); and the government agencies with whom these other services intersect (e.g., Births Deaths and Marriages registries (BDM), Australian Electoral Commission, state child protection departments, Australian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Health). C. Developing new—and improving existing—resources for professional development and training For all service providers and agencies covered under A and B options above (i.e., mainstream health/mental health and social services, as well as existing post-adoption specific support services), the following resources, training materials and opportunities for professional development were suggested: specific training of post-adoption workers, and general awareness and sensitivity training for broader service providers; resources for agencies such as developing Good Practice Guidelines, evaluation resources, etc.; regular conferences for post-adoption practitioners, which are also open to mainstream practitioners who find themselves working with people affected by forced adoptions; empathy/sensitivity awareness training for officers in information agencies—particularly BDM; and brokerage funding, or grants scheme to enhance capacity of existing agencies and support groups. D. Increasing accessibility and coordination through development of a national web portal Options canvassed in workshops and consultations included community-based service hubs, one-stop-shops, case management, and a national website. The literature recommends case management for clients who are experiencing severe symptoms, particularly when their symptoms inhibit them from functioning in everyday life or attending scheduled appointments. For these clients, case management helps to aid the effective organisation and delivery of
final_scoping_study_report_including_post_publication_additions_0.docx