THE PROJECT

The Through the Looking Glass Project has been in operation for a number of years funded by the Commonwealth Government which has involved several funding contracts.  The urrent funding agreement is till 2011.

Initially the Through the Looking Glass project was a 3 year Commonwealth Funded,

Invest To Grow Project, part of the Federal Governments Stronger Families and Communities Strateg
and was delivered across 5 participating child care centres, 3 of which were in SA one WA and the other QLD period being from 2005-08

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OTHER PROJECTS LINK www.facs.gov.au

The Through the Looking Glass project intervention is a relationship based parenting program based in childcare centres. It is a collaborative early intervention approach with families where the attachment relationship between the parent and child/ren is compromised.

In the TtLG program both a health professional and the child care worker work in partnership with each other and the family. The program directly works with small numbers of families (up to 7) in each group and focuses on their particular struggles that are directly impacting on their parenting, and on developing strong attachment relationships with their child/ren.

The program is noticeably different from many other parenting programs which cater for larger numbers delivering generic parenting information in that it has a specific focus on attachment and addresses issues specific to the family. In continuing with the theme of developing specific interventions for each family, both the health professional and child care worker work closely with the family, supporting the family with their specific struggle both in terms of direct support but also programming.

THE OVERALL AIM OF THE PROGRAM:

The overall aim of the program is to provide intensive psychosocial support and childcare as a package for families in order to develop and support secure attachment relationships between parent and child/ren. The project is designed to achieve specific outcomes for parents, children and childcare staff.

Parents will develop:

• Greater insight into the issues that impact on their parenting

• Increased empathy for their children

• Ongoing support through the provision of child care

• Social networks

• Greater confidence in their parenting ability

• Increased realisation and valuing of their importance to their children

Children will be supported to:

• Be more resilient as a result of secure attachment relationships

• Be in a safe environment

• Develop an alternative secure base and safe haven in a child care setting

• Have their emotional needs met at a high level

Child Care staff will:

• Increase their ability to work positively as part of a broad intervention strategy with high needs families

• Increase understanding of attachment for all children and families:

• Gain knowledge through dissemination of improved training and support and advice through Gowrie professional development .

PRINCIPLES ON WHICH THE PROJECT IS BASED

• Transcending silos of health, education and social services,

• Utilizing a non-stigmatized, accessible, universal setting,

• Provision of in-service training

• Focus on process and relationships.

THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS:

Attachment Theory  which includes the Circle of Security and Repair graphics

Building Social Connectedness,

Partnership

Early Intervention

COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT

There are a number of components to the project that interrelate.

• The childcare provided within a Primary Caregiver context

• The link between the clinician and the child care staff

• The 18 week group programme

• Video work

• Involvement of fathers

• Individual counselling and support

• Provision of training on attachment in the childcare context

• Learning Stories

• Developing partnerships

• Evaluation

For more information about each of the project components visit the specific section at this web site.