one is denied access to ones own history. (Fahlberg rg, 2008:353 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

“It is difficult to grow up as a psych cholog ologic ically ally hea ealthy thy adul ult t if f one is denied access to one’s own history.” (Fahlberg rg, 2008:353 53)

Who is is in in y your fam amily ily Do you have a b baby and what t stori ries es pic icture re of yoursel rself? f? have they y told? Do you look k or act How man any y houses ses lik ike anyon one e in in your have you liv ived in in? family ily?

Wh What is Li Life e Story ry wo work? Life ife Story ry wo work provid ides es the space ce and time ime for child ildren/yo /young ung people le to explo lore re and un understan stand d their ir lif life ex experie eriences, ces, both positiv itive e and nega gative. ive. Life ife Story ry wo work is is a st struc uctured, tured, age ge-ap appro propria priate te progr gramm amme e in in wh whic ich c child ildren/you /young g people le can be empow owered ered to fo formul mulate ate their ir past t and present ent int into a a cle lear r narrative. ative.

Childre ldren n we w we work wi with • Exper erienc ience e of sign signific ificant trauma uma • Lack of stimu imula lation tion in in early ly years rs • Early ly envir ironmen nments ts not co conduc uctive tive to le learning ning • May have e miss issed school ol • Foetal tal Alc lcoho hol l Syndr drome ome • Prematur mature e bir irth • Not meeting ting develo velopmental pmental mile ilestones nes • Dia iagn gnosis is of AD ADHD HD • Attac achment hment Diso isorder er

Life Story worker Coherent identity Benefits Build self- Relationship building esteem Child/young Carer/Key worker person

Th The e Pr Proces cess Stage ge 1 Stage ge 2 Referra ferral Stage ge 3 Informatio ormation n Gatheri hering Stage ge 4 Direct ect Wor ork Lif ife Story y St Stage e 5 Book Feedback ck and Evalua uatio tion

Stage ge 1: 1: Ref efer erral ral • Self lf-referra referral • Socia ial l worker r will r ill refer er the child ild/young g person son to the servic vice. e. • Socia ial l worker r will ill then atten end d a r referr erral al meet etin ing with ith L Life ife Story ry worker r to dis iscuss the referr erral al and gather er in in-depth th inf informatio ation about ut the child ild an and their ir his istory. y.

Ref eferr erral al Criteria eria Chi hild ld/young young perso son n 8-20 20 years rs of age ge and  Is Is in in lo long g term m foster ter ca care e or or  Is in in lo long g term m residenti idential al ca care or or  Was subje ject ct to a lo long g term m ca care e pla lan and ha has sin ince ce le left ca care or or  Has be been adopte pted There here can be situations tuations wher ere e engaging ging the e child/y ld/you oung g person erson in Life e Stor ory work is not benefi ficia ial or appr prop opri riate te, , depending pending on the e child/young person’s individual circumstances at that time. The he child/y ld/you oung g person erson can be re-refer ferred ed at a later er date. e.

Stage ge 2: 2: Inf nformation mation Ga Gather hering ing • Soci cial work fil ile read • Me Meetin ing g wit ith bir irth h parents ts and possibly extend nded ed famil ily members - 2/3 /3 sessio ions ns - at famil ily home or appropriate priate ve venue in in co community ty • Me Meeting ing wit ith previ vious foste ter r ca carers - 1 s sessio ion n wit ith each ch fost ster r famil ily • Me Meeting ing wit ith the cu current nt ca carers/key y worker befor ore starti ting ng sessio ions ns wit ith h the ch chil ild

Stage ge 3: 3: Direct ect wo work Dir irec ect t work k wit ith h the he ch child ild/young oung perso son n will ill: - • take ke place e weekly kly or twic ice e a m month th in in an approp opri riate te venue • require the carer’s/key worker’s participation in the sessions • in involve e worki king throug ugh: h: - ag age-appro propria priate te in informa matio tion n ab about bir irth f fam amily ily - vario ious us lif ife experi riences ences (p (past t and presen sent) t) - dif ifferent rent placeme cement nt moves s - current rent liv ivin ing arrangements gements • include interactive and creative activities to help ascertain the child’s views on their ir lif ife experi erien ences ces and help the chil ild to process cess dif iffic icult ult in inform rmation tion

Stage ge 3: 3: Direct ect wo work Life Story work rker Chi hild/y /you oung ng pers rson on Carer/K rer/Key work rker “Carers need an opportunity to hear and understand the history of the child in their care.” (Rose, 2013:99)

Stage ge 4: Li Life e Story ry book ok • A writ itte ten story y will ill be creat ated ed as an outcom ome e of Lif ife Story y sessio ions ns • The writ itte ten n story y will ill be in in a format mat whic ich h in inter eres ests ts the child ild/yo young ung perso son n e.g Lif ife Story y DVD, , Lif ife Story ry book or dig igit ital al Lif ife Story ry • The child ild/yo young ung pers rson on will ill b be consulte lted d about t this is produc duct

“It [life story] does not have to result in a product - it it is is the he process ess rather her tha han ju just the he produc uct t wh which ich will will y yiel ield most benef efits its for the child ildren and youn ung g people involved; the product will be the ‘record’.” (Ryan and Walker, 2012: 4)

Stage e 5: Fee eedback ck and Eva valu luat ation ion To continu inue to de develop elop our ur proje ject ct we we seek k feedback dback from: : - • Child ild/youn young g perso son • Key worker er • Carer er • Socia ial l worker er