Navigating relationships when our children are in out of home care: A narrative therapy group for parents whose lives are affected by child protection intervention and the removal of their children by Lauren Graham
Lauren describes a narrative informed group she developed and conducted for parents whose children are in care, and the ripple effects of linking communities through the sharing of stories and documents initially generated through the group. This initiative is linked to the work of a local action group in which Lauren is a member, in partnership with parents, which helps raise awareness and promotes strategies for family inclusion. Her work with this community continues and the themes of the group and stories generated continue to be shared, helping to make visible the skills and knowledge of parents on this journey, including the ways in which they resist the effects and find ways to sustain themselves. As an identity project, this has helped open up opportunities for parents to address the concerns that required child protection intervention.
Lauren lives and works in Newcastle, Australia in a non-government organisation which provides support for families with children who are experiencing disadvantage. At times the context of this work involves child protection intervention and when this results in child removal services are withdrawn from parents. Over the years Lauren has noticed the effects of social isolation for parents facing these circumstances, the impact on their sense of identity, their capacity to address the concerns and consequently, their relationships with their children. Lauren can be contacted via email storiesofdifference@hotmail.com
