Workshop - To rediscover and restore childhood and families

"Australian and artic model of the first 1000 days – Indigenous people leading the development and implementation of the first 1000 days.

Introduction: Encouraged by the Indigenous-led engagement methods used  by First 1000 Days Australia at the University of Melbourne, Australia, researchers and clinicians from the University of Tromsø, Norway are developing a program of work to develop an Arctic Model of the First 1000 Days.  This presentation will discuss the engagement strategies used to develop an Arctic Model of the First 1000 Days for Sami communities in Norway and possibly across Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia.

Methods: The Australian Indigenous methods of engagement and knowledge generation employed by First 1000 Days Australia will be adapted to assist in the genesis of a model applicable for Sami families. Two focus groups will bring together Sami researchers, community workers, implementers and policy makers with the aim to develop novel strategies for an Arctic Model of the First 1000 Days for Sami people. 

Conclusion: To ensure Sami families benefit from the international First 1000 Days movement, a Sami led engagement process is underway to generate and collate evidence to address and promote early life equity among all children born. This Indigenous led series of forums brought together members of both Australian and Norwegian, researchers and scientist, from peak research bodies,  front-line workers (such as mid-wives and social workers), community organisations and representatives and policy makers to develop and workshop an Arctic model of the  First 1000 Days.

"Grandparents and children’s future"

Today's climate change affects the entire globe, and can have serious consequences for future generations. Grandparents of today have been part of an exploitation of social benefits and commitment to technological development towards growth and prosperity. This has laid a foundation for the problems that our grandchildren might be affected by, if development continues at the same track. Whereas overspending has occurred in the majority population, the consequences will affect both majority and minority cultures.In indigenous theories terms like "the Elders" and "historical trauma" point to the relationship between generations. Given indigenous methodological research on how knowledge and involvement of the elders can be included in the development of knowledge, generational impact on children and young people's future will be discussed.The paper relates to three different topics that are relevant to children's future and living conditions:1)  A research project on family group conference used in foster work. Family Group Conference is a decision model, originally from New Zealand and inspired by Maori People’s family patterns, where the extended family, not just parents, are responsible for the next generation. A research finding is that Family group conference in Norway recruits and involves the grandparent generation from both maternal and paternal family. Traditional and late modern family values meet at a new arena.2)  Climatic conditions is an essential framework for both users and professionals in child protection work. Research-based knowledge about global warming, the consequences of carbon emissions and CO2 levels in the atmosphere frighten many young people today. This fear can give significant psychological problems and adding stone to burden in already demanding family situations.3)  A grandparents action group now supports a lawsuit against the state for violation of § 112 of the Norwegian Constitution. It is a violation of the state’s duty to ensure every person the right to health and to an environment and a nature where productivity and diversity must be preserved for posterity. On this basis, the paper invites input and dissemination of experiences from social and health service practitioners working with children, youth and their families

"To rediscover – restore – recreate"

How to utilize the prevailing myths regarding the extended Sami family as caring and influential in a therapeutic context

Contrary to prevailing beliefs about Sami families as caring and protective towards their family members, in particular their children, research and clinical experience at Indre Finnmark Familievernkontor/RESAK, the family counselling unit in Karasjok, show that children raised in alcohol abusive families become “invisible” in Sami families, in schools, to social professionals and to the Sami societies.  

In order to rediscover, restore and recreate the overall caring and protective family systems, and to make the children and other family members visible when in therapy, the therapists at the family counselling unit wish to present some of the approaches and methods we use in our work. Our aim is to prevent the problems from being repeated in the next generation and to show how we can use a cultural perspective in our work

"FGC in a Sami context"

Family Group conference historical roots are from the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maori people. They inspired the policy makers and politicians in New Zealand to set up a different policy: when a significant decision must be made concerning a child, it is not only child welfare workers who make a plan for the child. The whole family, relatives and network are involved in the decision- making process.

Children’s rights and rights of participation in public proceedings, is I Norway statury.   

FGC has expanded to  many countries, and FGC has been in use in Norway since the end of 1990s. The implementation of FGC is quite successful; however, it is difficult to implement the method because still some child welfare workers seem resistant, and because families decline the offer of family group conferencing.  In 2016, about half of the municipalities used FGC, approximately around 1100 children. A new child welfare law (2017) claims that if a child is removed from the family, the family should be offered a FGC unless there are strong reasons not to.

The aim of the workshop is to present perspectives from research, and to share experiences from a project in Karasjok where FGC has been used in high conflict cases in Sami families. So far, FGC towards Sami children is not extensively. In this workshop, we question whether the FGC method are a good working model for social work in Sami communities. If so, how can the method adjusted towards social work in Sami communities?

This workshop is a first step in a dialogue aiming towards development of FGC for use in Sami communities.  It will be continued with a dialogue meeting, where social work practitioners and stakeholders, representatives from government and researchers will be invited to participate

"Knowledge circles: Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through giving a voice and real participation"

To ensure that the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland were heard and real participation was at the forefront, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Limited (QATSICPP) developed the concept of the QATSICPP Knowledge Circles. 

Knowledge Circles have a strong focus on ascertaining information to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.  The Knowledge Circles integrate the process of ‘yarning’ which is a highly effective tool and/or process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  From previous Knowledge Circles, QATSICPP has been able to obtain information pertaining to community needs in relation to child protection and how they are being affected and what is needed to move forward.

Knowledge Circles have been successful for QATSICPP in identifying the needs of a community in relation to what they want and hope for in relation to child protection as well as for the work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Reform Project which aims to assist in addressing the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families in the child protection system.

These Knowledge Circles have been utilized in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in urban, rural, regional and remote settings.