Together4Kids have developed a suite of Facilitator’s Manuals for our therapeutic programs – available for free download. These programs have been developed for children and their parents who have experienced homelessness and domestic violence.
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The Garden Group Therapeutic Program is designed for infants and toddlers aged 0–4 years accompanied by a parent or caregiver. This facilitator’s manual provides a rationale for The Garden Group Program; it acknowledges the theories that underpin its therapeutic intent, and provides a practical guide to setting up, delivering, closing and evaluating each session with the group.
The Garden uses sensory-based activities to support attachment and attunement and promotes child led parenting . The program is structured over 8 weeks and builds parents confidence in responding to their child. A journal is used each week for parents to reflect on their experiences in the group. It is expected that frontline workers will attend a Train the Facilitator workshop offered by Together4Kids prior to using this group program. A hard copy of the manual and dyad is provided to participants completing the training. More information here. Journals for each group participant are available for purchase here.
View the manual here. Hard copies of The Garden are available for purchase here.
The Garden Dyad Program was originally developed and facilitated as an eight-week therapeutic group program by Together4Kids. That program has now been modified for dyadic work with individual families. The Garden Dyad Program is designed specifically for infants and toddlers aged 0–4 years accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
This Practitioner’s Manual is based on the Garden Group Program. This manual provides practitioners with everything needed to provide a structured 8 week, child-led, attachment and attunement program with one parent and their child. A journal is used each week for the parent to reflect on their experiences with their child during the session. This practitioner-led program is suitable for child specialists undertaking intensive early intervention to support a parent/s with an infant aged under 4 years old.
Training is provided for practitioners interested in using this program, which includes a hard copy of the practitioners manual and dyad, through the Australian Institute of Social Relations. See more information about the Train the Facilitator training here.
View the dyad here. Hard copies of The Dyad are available for purchase here.
The Garden Weekly Journal
Maintaining a reflective journal is an integral part of the Garden Program. We have created this booklet journal for parents to record their reflections and children to contribute to, throughout the Program. This robust, high-quality printed journal is a special keepsake for the child and caregiver. It provides an opportunity to look back on their work together, at any time, after the completion of the program. Journals are recommended for each group participant.
View the booklet here. Hard copies are available for purchase here.
Conversations at the Kitchen Table Manual and Handbook – ManualDrawing on the Therapeutic Parenting Programs developed by Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Adoption Support Service, this Reflective Parenting Resource has been designed and developed by the Together4Kids team as part of our support for workers in the homelessness and family and domestic violence (FDV) sector.
Download
Conversations at the Kitchen Table Manual and Handbook- Handbook
This handbook accompanies the professional development training program Conversations at the Kitchen Table: Reflective Parenting Conversations for Front Line Workers.
Download
Colour me calm brings together the fun and benefit of colouring in with some useful exercises to help children calm and slow down. The activities can help support a child if they are feeling anxious or stressed, to breathe and to relax and feel safer. Ideally, for families of young children, this booklet has been designed for parents and children to participate and play together.Download
Pilyurni Colouring Book brings together the fun and benefit of colouring in with some really useful exercises to help children slow down and relax. Acknowledging that many specialist FDV and homelessness services are located on Kaurna land, this booklet was designed especially for Aboriginal families. Using Kaurna words and phrases, this booklet supports pride in Aboriginal culture.Download
If your service is located on the traditional lands of another Aboriginal group, Together4Kids would like to partner with you to translate this resource to honour the language and culture of the traditional custodians of the land. Please contact T4K if you would like to develop this resource.
Grows a Little is a resource of catchy songs to play to children while they are accessing emergency or transitional services or to play in their own homes. The simple exercises that go with the songs in this workbook, do not require specialist training or specific therapeutic skills. Case workers and children’s workers in the sector can use these songs and workbook to support children in their care by playing and singing the songs and doing the exercises, all without specialist training. Parents can readily go through the exercises with their own children at home.Listen and download
First 1000 Days are important to an infant’s mental health. The first 1000 days of life – between conception and a child’s 2nd birthday – is a unique window of opportunity to shape their social and emotional development and long-term mental health and wellbeing. This includes their experience, expression, and management of emotions, as well as their ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. We have two versions, one for parents and the other for professionals.
Download (For Professionals)
Download (For Parents)
Tips and Resources for Navigating the NDIS Process when Working with Children is designed for case managers working with children (aged 0-18) within the homelessness and domestic violence sector. It has been produced by UniSA Occupational Therapy students, Lana Feichter and Hazel Paton, in collaboration with Relationships Australia South Australia – Together4Kids.
Download
Unbelievably Simple Tips for Being a Great Parent is a helpful info-graphic document to provide to parents with tips for meaningful interactions with their child.
Download (English)
Download (Swahili)
Download (Vietnamese)
Download (Dinka)
Through Your Child’s Eyes is for mothers of children where family and domestic violence has been part of their lives. While mothers and children are in crisis accommodation, including a motel, this booklet can provide reassurance about how they can support their child who has also experienced FDV. The information and practical tips helps mothers respond to their child in ways that support a loving relationship, provide safety and understanding throughout the period. View online here.
The Kangaroo Feeding Track is a story to support a parents’ understanding of their children’s behaviour, as they move on from trauma. The kangaroo is a metaphor for brain plasticity and the effects of trauma. This story may also provide some insight into parents’ own reactions and responses.
Websites and online courses
To further support your Professional Development in working with Children
Emerging Minds
Emerging Minds have a wealth of resources, as well as on line courses to support your work with children. Their philosophy is that relationships play a central role in children’s social and emotional development and mental health. From the time of birth, children need stable and responsive attachments with caring adults.
In particular Together4Kids recommends the following online training from Emerging Minds to support your work with children and parents who are clients of FDV and specialist homelessness services:
- Impact of Family Domestic Violence on Children
- An introduction to the impact of FDV on children
- First 1000 Days
- First 1000 days support for parents and their infant, information, tips and resources for practitioners
- Trauma and the Child
- Basic trauma information and its effects on the developing child
- Play – A Mental Health Strategy
- Play activities and suggestions for engaging parents and their child
- Sharing Information with Parents
- Tips on talking to parents about their children’s emotional and social wellbeing
- Tips on Talking to Parents
- Back ground information explaining why parents may not talk to practitioners about their children’s mental health issues, and tips to support your work with those parents
You can access all of Emerging Minds online training here.
BeYou
That can help you develop skills and knowledge in your family support work in the FDV and specialist homelessness sector.
Raising Children
Culturally appropriate resources for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents. This website also has a range of resources in languages other than English.
The Dulwich Centre
Dulwich Centre offers popular workshops in family and children’s group programs such as the Tree of Life and Team of Life.
Bright Tomorrows Start Today App
Babies learn through spending time with their parents and other special people in their life. Learn more about emotions, thoughts and responses that happen in a child’s brain when a baby experiences meaningful moments. Build strong brains as a strong foundation for their life.
Practical resources to support your work with children
Innovative Resources
Excellent resources from the makers of St Luke’s Resources including Strength Cards for Kids; I Can Monsters Cards; Stones Cards; The Bears Cards and Cars ‘r’ us Cards.
Quirky Kid Clinic
Various therapeutic resources to purchase for children and young people.
The Freckled Frog
Children’s toys and educational products.
SNAICC Resources
SNAICC is the national non-governmental peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Their culturally appropriate resources are available to support your work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to ensure their safety, development and wellbeing.
A practical guide for developing culturally competent practice with First Nations children who experience the effects of generational trauma. Ideal for Specialist Homeless Services practitioners and those working in Specialist Family and Domestic Violence Services.