This full day presentation is based on our experience over the last three years training caregivers in trauma informed therapeutic parenting through Caring Families Aotearoa. Rob Surtees, Therapist, and Sally Moffatt, Programme Manager will explain the science of what works to support caregivers with children and young people in their care.

We know that what we have been doing for the past 50 years is not working – this is evidenced by our poor statistics for children and young people in care. There is a better way and we are very pleased to share with you what is lifting outcomes across the globe. Where children are being healed not held in care.

Hurt children communicate through their behaviours, we need to be able to interpret what they are saying and what they need. We cannot continue to punish them for their behaviour.  We need to support those that spend the most time with them, their caregivers and teachers, to provide the right responses that will help them develop new neuro pathways.

They say, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ – it takes a team of professionals to work together to ensure children and young people have the best possible chance to meet their potential. We believe all professionals working with children and young people in care need to be on the same page – we need to change our practice so that we can truly make a difference. If you are a social worker, youth worker or other professional working with children and young people in care then this one-day information/training day is for you.

" I smile (inwardly) now because I can clearly recognise that Attachment Disorder is the foundation for most behavioural issues.  Being able to recognise the cause of numerous behavioural issues enables one's abilities to better manage and support the child / adult's healing processes".

Karen Browne, Caregiver Social Worker, Nga Puhi Iwi Social Services

We would like you to know what we have found works, what Caregivers are learning, so that you too can really support children and young people in care.  In this one day workshop, we will provide honest reflections from caregivers and professionals. Explore why attachment and therapeutic parenting is the way forward. Bring in international voices from those who have worked in this field and also introduce you to Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and the PACE attitude – models of practice that we are using and evaluating.

The main learning objectives of this full day workshop are:

• To understand Developmental (Complex) Trauma.
• To understand why we need to change what we are doing - connection before correction.
• For professionals to better support caregivers so they are able to heal the children in their care.
• To understand the why behind children's behaviour.
• To understand what you can do to support impacted children/young people.

How it will improve your everyday practice? 

• Knowledge to truly understand Developmental Trauma and how this trauma has impacted on brain development for these children.
• Enables professionals to make informed decisions around healing for these children.
• Having relevant knowledge and skills to change the trajectory of children in care.
• Being able to support caregivers to manage challenging behaviour while also staying emotionally connected to the children.
• To develop healthy patterns of relating and communicating.

For More Information and to Register