Kikkert to host forum: Evidence-based Approaches to Helping Children, Young People and Families

The Shadow Minister for Families, Youth and Community Services Elizabeth Kikkert will host a public forum at the ACT Legislative Assembly this morning looking at evidence-based approaches to helping children, young people and families.

International child welfare experts Dr Sylvia Rowlands, Senior Vice President of Evidence-Based Programs at the New York Foundling and Dr Tom Sexton, Professor in the Department of Counselling and Educational Psychology at Indiana University and model developer for Functional Family Therapy will present their findings at Mrs Kikkert’s public forum today.

Topics to be discussed include:

• What evidence-based models are and how they have successfully reduced the numbers of children in out-of-home care and youth detention in jurisdictions around the world,

• How evidence-based models meet the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in ways that honour culture and strengthen communities,

• How these models can be both more successful and more cost effective than traditional methods, and;

• What specific impacts a robust evidence-based approach could have on child and youth protection and youth justice in the ACT.

“I’m looking forward to hearing from international leaders in the field of child welfare about some of the models and methods used around the world to help vulnerable people in our community,” Mrs Kikkert said.

Public Forum Details:

Date: Thursday 6 December 2018

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Venue: Reception Room, ACT Legislative Assembly, 196 London Circuit, Canberra