North Shore: Tuesday lunchtime 9th September 12.30-2.30 Where: Glenfield Community Centre, Cnr Glenfield Rd & Bentley Ave

Waitakere: Tuesday evening 16th September 5.00-7.00pm Thursday evening 18th September 2.30-2.30
Where: Kelston Community Centre Cnr Great North & Awaroa Rd

Family/Whanau Focus Groups
Are you a parent or family member of a child or young person who has had a mental illness, emotional or behaviour issue? If you are we would like you to have your say about How Waitemata DHB Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions services to develop over the next 10 years.

Light refreshments will be served & children welcome If you would like to come please contact: Anita McFarlane (Project Lead) Anita.McFarlane@WaitemataDHB.govt.nz OR Claire Cox (Family Advisor) laire.Cox@WaitemataDHB.govt.nz Phone: 09 486 8983.

Wilson School Opening
ME interactive health programme
Child Psychotherapy at AUT
Trust Partnerships Conference
Spectacles Subsidy
Depression Research
Autism Workshops
Parent2Parent
Transition Expo MSD & Parent & Family Resource Centre
Disability Law & Special Education Advocacy

Family Matters August September 2008

How can Child Psychotherapy help?
Child Psychotherapy provides an opportunity for the child to work through their difficulties so that they have mastery over them. This is done in an environment conducive to providing a safe and helpful experience for the child. Child Psychotherapists work alongside parents in order to support them and to offer some understanding of their child’s distress.

Our Child Psychotherapy Clinic and Ethics
The Auckland University of Technology Child Psychotherapy Clinic is located at the Akoranga Campus, Northcote. The Clinic is designed and equipped specifically for children to enable them to feel at ease in an unfamiliar situation. The preferred medium for working with children is play, which enables them to express their feelings and worries in a non threatening way.
Child Psychotherapy is provided by students studying the Master of Health Science. Sessions are video taped and/or screened to ensure safety for the child and the best training for the student. Weekly supervision is provided by a senior practising Child Psychotherapist.

The Practice undertaken at the clinic will adhere to the Code of Ethics set by the New Zealand Association of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists.

Referrals are accepted by GP’s, Child and Family Mental Services, CYFS and other statutory agencies. Parents are welcome to self refer and contact the clinic for consultation. Contacts Carol Shrinkfield, Clinic Co-ordinator.

Appointments Phone: +64 9 921-9999 ext 7219 Fees and Cancellations for Both (Adult and Child) Psychotherapy Clinics. There is a sliding scale with a maximum of $30.00 per session. Gate 2 Entry, AR Building, Akoranga Campus, Northcote.

Carers NZ is pleased to announce the launch of Family Care Radio, a one hour internet radio show for families with health and disability needs.

Family Care Radio’s hosts are Pip Fowler, Margie Wheeler, and senior journalist and broadcaster Todd Niall … all past or current carers.

The magazine-style radio show is the first of its kind in the world, offering interviews with carers, medical experts, political decision-makers, and others with an interest in caregiving.
Family Care Radio was made possible with funding from the Government’s Digital Strategy Community Partnerships Fund. Carers NZ has been able to secure other funding to ensure the monthly show is viable ongoing.
The inaugural programme can be accessed by going to http://familycareradio.net.nz
Interviews in the first Family Care Radio Show:

Villette Kolose Ph 09 8460913 ext 1
Auckland@autismnz.org.nz

• Wilson Home Trust initiatives
• Know How Day
• Spina Bifida Coffee Group
• Carer Strategy
• What Do I Say? Talking to children about disability

Download june-july-08Family Matters June July 2008 [260 KB pdf]

• There are only eight in the class.
• Staff are fully trained and provide an accessible, safe environment.
• Using Carer Support days (HFA) may cover costs.

An exciting development - a new group has been proposed within this framework, to address anger management issues. It is research based and incorporates drumming, using bongo drums that require the hands to make the sound/rhythm etc. For more details please call: David Curtis, Ph: 0800 210 019 or 021 285 3078. Email: dcurtis@activ8.org.nz

www.activ8.org.nz

The parent would need to be confident about speaking in a small group situation (8 people). The meeting would probably take place some time at the end of June in the evening (7-9pm), at PFRC Onehunga, cnr of Spring and Princes St. If you would like further information, or know of someone from your group who could be asked to participate, please phone me at PFRC weekdays 9-4pm. Katherine Frame DD 6360823

Terms of Reference for PFRC Focus Group

Purpose of the PFRC Focus Group 0-5 years of age
PFRC is seeking further advice from parents and families about how the organisation can best provide support and information to them. Information from the Focus Group will:
• inform PFRC about where families go to for information and support
• inform PFRC about what information needed and how PFRC can respond
• provide information to government and NGOs about what families need and want
• highlight major areas of concern to inform future services; those funded by the government and family and community based initiatives.

The Focus Group will be made up of a total of eight people whose family members are aged from birth to five years of age.
Frequency of Focus Groups
It is proposed that the Focus Group will come together for one meeting. Facilitated discussion is expected to last about two to three hours. PFRC staff will facilitate and record the discussions.

Remuneration
Focus Group members will be paid an honorarium of forty dollars ($40-00) per group meeting in recognition of their time and skills and to contribute to relevant costs associated with family responsibilities, childcare costs, home support costs etc.
Background Information
Parent and Family Resource Centre (PFRC) provides leadership to ensure the voices of families and whanau of disabled children and young people are heard locally, nationally and internationally.

PFRC builds and maintains alliances with community groups, disability organizations, government agencies and service providers. Regular seminars offer opportunities for sharing knowledge about disability issues and about current and innovative services designed to achieve better outcomes for disabled people and their communities.

PFRC is a key source of information and advice for parents, families and whanau of disabled children and young people in Auckland and for the professionals and services who work with them.

Information from the PFRC stakeholders tells us that parents and families want support from PFRC to:

• represent their interests by maintaining existing networks and keeping well informed about community activities and initiatives so that information can be shared
• provide information in a variety of ways e.g. workshops, seminars, website, Networker, person to person support, disability group Network meetings, Auckland Disability Providers Network
• listen to their stories and help them and their families to explore and plan for meaningful and inclusive lives within their Auckland communities
• provide support for them to connect and obtain the services they need
• inform and demonstrate to the Auckland community that it will benefit by including disabled people and their families in their communities.

For further information about PFRC, go to www.parentandfamily.org.nz

If you would like the opportunity to learn about a range of topics that may assist your child to achieve their optimal potential these workshops will answer many questions for you. Being more informed should reduce your stress about making the right choices for your child. This is a great opportunity to network, ask questions and feel more connected with the autism community.
First preference is given to attendees who wish to attend all 6 workshops. If space permits there may be the option to attend selected individual sessions for a cost of $25 per session

Fortnightly Workshops commencing

Wed 11 June
Biomed 101: Help with sleeping, behaviour and digestive problems.
These common problems interfere with family life and there are sometimes simple and effective tools that help using diet, nutrients and supplements such as melatonin for sleep issues. Pick up some understanding and tips of how these common problem areas may be helped. Dr Debbie Fewtrell Biomedical Doctor

Wed 25 June
The ins and outs of psychological medications Psychological medication can be lifesavers! Do you wonder whether to try one but feel concerned about risk? Understand from our local psychiatrist where he sees the role of medications and which behaviours may benefit form different types of treatment. New developments in pharmaceutical protocols. Leila will present some interesting and exciting new uses of medications in autism that help behaviour and other issues. Andrew Parkin. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr Leila Masson Biomedical Paediatrician
Wed 9 July
Biomedical – the next stage:Detoxing the environment and your child. The consensus is that ASD children are poor detoxifiers. It is therefore important to minimise their exposure to toxins in day to day life but also sometimes necessary to help toxin elimination. Learn how to protect your vulnerable child. Dr Debbie Fewtrell and Dr Leila Masson

Wed 23 July
Sensory, OT, Music and Movement. How can they help? Very valuable modalities that can address a myriad of issues. What is out there? Would your child benefit from doing one of these approaches?
Felicity Roberts. Branch manager.

Wed 6 August
Biomedical approaches: DAN!, Pfeiffer, MINDD and other approaches explained. There are a lot of different “ways” to treat biomedically. Part of the confusion for parents knows how to sort out the wheat from the chaff- there is a plethora of information – which is right. Leila and Debbie will give an overview of the various merits of each style of approach and weave them together in an understandable manner.
There will extra time for questions to conclude the series or workshops. Dr Leila Masson. Biomedical Paediatrician. Dr Debbie Fewtrell by Video conference

Each participant will be given a workbook to accompany the series of workshops. The evenings will be friendly and informal with plenty of time for questions.
Book now- there are limited places available contact Shannon Thompson Office Administrator on Auckland@autismnz.org.nz or 09 8460913 ext 1
Cost $120 for the series of 6 workshops.
Autism NZ Inc Auckland Branch does not necessarily support, endorse or recommend any method, treatment, product, programme or therapist for those with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. We do however, seek to inform, in the belief that you have the right to know, so you can make informed choices. If you no longer wish to receive email messages from us which we believe may be of interest to you, please reply to this email with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.