Think child think family: child and family-sensitive practice in specialist homelessness service

摘要

In late 2009, Australian Centre for Child Protection researchers surveyed staff from 107 specialist homelessness services operating across Australia. Of these services: • Almost half had fewer than five staff members • The main client group of half of the services were women and women with children escaping domestic violence • Many accommodated more children than adults Suggestions made by staff to improve responses to homeless children included: • Increasing staffing levels in homelessness services and increasing access to staff skilled in working with children • Increasing housing availability and improving the appropriateness of housing for families • Strengthening links between services and sectors to facilitate resource-pooling • Improving homeless children’s access to specialist services such as speech therapy, dentistry and counselling • Creating more opportunities for recreational and group activities