Families Projects

Research Project - National Homeless Families

Micah Projects was successful in receiving a grant from the federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) National Homelessness Research program in partnership with the University of Queensland. The project will examine best practice in crisis intervention and support services for families at risk of homelessness. The Innovation, Research and Evaluation (IRE) Unit is working with Dr Karen Healy, Professor, School of Social Work and Human Services, UQ and a steering group comprised of Brisbane Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (BDVAS), Brisbane Youth Service (BYS), FaHCSIA, Queensland’s Department of Communities, Mater Health Services and Micah Projects Family, Women and Children Support Services. Planning began early in 2010 and field work on the project has recently commenced.

The project’s participants are families who receive family support services or crisis intervention services from Micah Projects, BDVAS and BYS. In the first stage one adult member from up to 80 families will be interviewed to gather baseline data about their family’s circumstances and goals. Subsequent interviews will focus on assessing progress towards achieving those goals.

Supporting Parenting and Child Wellbeing across Micah Projects

This year Micah Projects initiated an activity to enhance the capacity of all our teams to identify and respond to the unique needs of children whom we support along with their parents. To achieve these improvements the IRE Unit and Family, Women and Children Support Services have established a partnership with Dr Robyn Mildon, Director of Knowledge Exchange with the Parenting Research Centre in Victoria. In June Dr Mildon facilitated preliminary workshops with representatives from Micah Projects to clarify the aims, target groups and intended outcomes of an organisation-wide practice guide for supporting parenting and child wellbeing. Dr Mildon will continue to work with Micah Projects in 2010 and 2011 to develop these practice guidelines.

The project will also involve practice reflection meetings and support plan reviews with Micah Projects support and advocacy workers working with vulnerable families. It is hoped the research will inform practice for all homelessness services working with families across Australia.