Information for Child Protection and/or Justice Workers

Infants / Young Children / Primary/Adolescent / Pregnancy & Conception

1. When the person has an infant or young toddler.

• A booklet called 'The Best for Me and My Baby' has been developed for people with a mental illness who are contemplating parenthood, expecting a baby or who are parents of infants. An example Baby Care Plan (mentioned in the booklet) is also downloadable.
• Support parent-child attachment and early childhood development through advice or referral to maternal & child health services and/or Early Parenting centres.
• Ensure infants have their own cot and that parents understand SIDS risk factors (downloadable pamphlet available at www.sidsaustralia.org.au/safesleep/safesleepindex.htm)
• Encourage them (if they haven't already done so) to discuss management of any medication with their doctor to enhance breast feeding and fulfillment of parenting role.
• Counsel if required regarding feelings such as anxiety, anger, fear, isolation.
• Assess for parenting capacity using a multi-method, multi-source approach that includes information from a range of experts including infant and child health professionals and mental health professionals who are familiar with the parent's mental health status and provide skills development as necessary.

2. When the person has a young child/ren ( <5 years)

• Encourage parents to explain the mental illness or health problem in very simple terms to the child (resources such as picture books may assist)
• Support attachment and early childhood development through advice or referral to maternal & child health services.
• Support respite for both parent and child though child-care options. (The Child Care Access Hotline can provide information about local child-care options ph: 1800 670305).
• Assess for parenting capacity using a multi-method, multi-source approach that includes information from a range of experts including infant and child health professionals and mental health professionals who are familiar with the parent's mental health status and provide skills development as necessary.

3. When the person is the parent of primary school aged child/ren or adolescents

• Encourage parents to:
  • explain the mental illness or health problem to the child at a level they understand (See list of books and videos etc.)
  • talk to the child about their concerns and feelings relating to the parental mental illness/health problem.
• Suggest that children/young people who are providing care for their parents may gain support from programmes for young carers (Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre Ph: 1800 242 636)
• Support respite for both parent and child though child-care options.
• Explore the possibility of the child/young person attending a support programme for their age group (state programs)
• Where appropriate, and especially if the child is missing school or struggling with school, encourage the parent to speak to the school or write a letter to them - see the 'Supporting Our Family' kit for a downloadable sample htt p://www.howstat.com/comic

4. Special Considerations: Pregnancy or plans by the person with the mental health problem to conceive.

• Support people with a mental illness who intend to have children or are currently pregnant to access early antenatal care and to prepare for the care and support of their infant/s. This may include:
  • revision of medications and their impact on pregnancy and/or breastfeeding planning with the parent/s for temporary care of the infant should the parent become ill after childbirth
  • discussing strategies to assist the parent/s to gain appropriate supports (including financial if necessary) prior to the baby's birth.
• Support access to advice regarding family planning for people with a mental illness who are contemplating having a child or more children.
• Support parents to attend antenatal classes and/or parenting classes.
• booklet called 'The Best For Me and My Baby' has been developed for people with a mental illness who are a)contemplating parenthood, b) are 'expectant' parents and/or c) are parents of infants