Parents Under Pressure seminar

A new program designed to assist families living with substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, and maternal mental health problems, will be explained at a seminar to be held in Lismore on Thursday, March 17.

The seminar, hosted by Southern Cross University’s Centre for Children and Young People and the YWCA’s Communities for Children, will provide details of the Parents Under Pressure program (PUP).

Dr Paul Harnett, from the University of Queensland, and Vanessa Rendalls, from the Griffith Psychological Health Research Centre, will provide an overview of the program, including who it is for, why it was developed and what is involved in getting the program up and running.

SCU researcher Robyn Fitzgerald said one of the key roles of the Centre for Children and Young People was to bring together key stakeholders from a broad range of children’s services and provide them with access to the latest research and evidence-based initiatives.

Ms Fitzgerald said the PUP program was an intensive, multi-component, family-focused intervention for families living with substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, and maternal mental health problems.

The seminar is targeted at services working with children, young people and families, but is also open to parents.

YWCA Communities for Children manager Mr Tony Davies said it was important that service providers and families in regional areas had access to the latest research and programs.

“With our Communities for Children project we want to provide opportunities for increased training and be able to provide additional support for families,” Mr Davies said.

The seminar will be held in E201 (next to the Centre for Children and Young People) from 5pm to 6.30pm on Thursday, March 17.