About the COPMI Initiative
Information Resource Consultation Group
International Consultation Group
Workforce Development Consultation Group
Research & Evaluation Consultation Group
Lived Experience Consultation Group
About the COPMI Initiative
The Australian Children Of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) initiative is being undertaken by AICAFMHA* with funding provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
The initiative began in 2002 with a comprehensive national consultation that included parents, young people, mental health workers and other health, education, justice and welfare service providers.
Based on the consultation, expert opinion and relevant literature, a key document Principles and Actions for Services and People Working with Children of Parents with Mental Illness was developed and resource materials (eg booklets and a website) were developed, trial tested and released.
In the second phase (mid 2004-2007) the initiative worked to increase awareness and uptake of the COPMI good practice guidelines among individuals and services working with children of parents with a mental illness and their families. It also promoted and supported education and training of health and other relevant workforces regarding the COPMI resources and increased awareness of the availability of resource materials appropriate for children and family members affected by parental mental illness.
* Australian Infant Child Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd (pronounced 'ay-kaf-ma').
Aims and Objectives
In 2005, Maybery and Reupert, estimated that there were between 21% and 23% of children living in Australian households where at least one parent has a mental illness, equating to just over a million children at that time (see more Facts & Figures). Not all children of parents with a mental illness will experience difficulties as a result of their parent's ill health. However a combination of genetic inheritance and a range of factors often associated with mentally ill adults can increase risks to their children's well-being.
Aim
The overall aim of the Australian COPMI initiative is to promote better mental health outcomes for children (0 - 18 years) of parents with a mental health problem or disorder.
Objectives
The objectives of the current phase of the initiative (2008 - mid 2010) are:
- To increase the availability of information for workers and families about:
- the promotion of factors to enhance children's resilience
- the reduction of risk factors for children, and in relation to parental mental illness.
- To increase access to quality workforce development resources for people working with children and families affected by parental mental illness.
- To increase access by 'copmi' program planners and facilitators to:
- knowledge, skills and evaluation personnel regarding relevant research literature and evaluation methods, models and techniques
- information regarding the efficacy of programs, services and/or approaches.
Consultation Groups
Information Resources Consultation Group
- View Terms of Reference
- View Membership
- Contact Chair
International Consultation Group
- View Terms of Reference
- View Membership
- Contact Chair
Workforce Development Consultation Group
- View Terms of Reference
- View Membership
- Contact Chair
Research & Evaluation Consultation Group
- View Terms of Reference
- View Membership
- Contact Chair
COPMI Reference Group
- View Terms of Reference
- View Membership
- Contact Chair
The Lived Experience Consultation Group
- View Membership
- Contact Chair
COPMI National Family Forum
Publications about COPMI
- Information Brochure (227kb)
- Broadsheet - Feb 2008 (811kb)
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