P.A.I.R.S. group programs are for parents experiencing difficulties following the birth of their baby. Sometimes these difficulties arise from medical or surgical problems during the pregnancy or birth (for mother or for baby), or from traumatic birth experiences or prematurity of baby, from prolonged sleeplessness or anxiety or depression in the parents, or from a colicky or reflux baby who is difficult to settle.
Adverse life events can impact on the parenting experience, as can family of origin issues. All these factors can interfere with the parent-infant relationship, which means the experience of parenting is less enjoyable than it might otherwise be.
Parent-child relationship difficulties may have arisen due to premature births, maternal post-natal depression, illness, family of origin issues or other adverse life events. Each program consists of ten weekly two-hour groups. Groups include up to eight mothers and infants under two years of age.
Group programs facilitators are multi-agency and multi-disciplinary. They have included Maternal Child and Health Nurses, a Medical Officer, Child Psyciatry Regristrars, Psychologists and a Physiotherapist from Specialist Children’s Services and Psychologists from Southern Health and other health care networks.
ReferralsReferrals are accepted from welfare agencies, maternal child health nurses, doctors, paediatricians, mental health programs and other related agencies.
HistoryThe program was piloted as a joint venture between Frankston Maternal and Child Health, Specialist Children’s Services, and Monash Medical Centre Child Psychiatry in 1996.
How the program runsP.A.I.R.S. group programs run for 10 weeks, with 2 hourly sessions each week. Infants and parents spend 45 minutes in a conjoint group. Then the infants and parents spend 45 minutes in separate groups that run in parallel. The mothers and infants then rejoin for a combined discussion and farewell (30 minutes).
The conjoint sessionThe aim of the conjoint session is to improve parenting skills and confidence by understanding the children’s behaviour as well as the parents’ own needs and reactions. Parenting skills are developed through observation of other mothers and babies, and through working with staff to match the individual needs of each mother and baby. Mothers are assisted to develop relationships with their infants using activities such as play, singing, dancing, and baby massage. After returning from the separate sessions, the infant therapists provide feedback to the mothers about the infants’ activity while the mothers were absent. The therapists provide feedback about the themes of the mother’s group, allowing the mothers to reflect on their own situations.
The mothers’ groupMothers are able to have a tea or coffee break apart from their
infants. This session provides a safe forum to explore more intensely their
ambivalent feelings about motherhood. Issues related to the experience of
pregnancy, childbirth, and management of their infant, as well as partnership
and life changes which come with the transition to parenthood are discussed.
As well as receiving professional support, the mothers are supported by each
other and encouraged to develop new self-help skills.
In the separate group, supported by professional therapists, infants have the opportunity to develop an awareness of other infants and to become more actively engaged with a therapist and to play with each other.
Follow-upA written report is provided to the family and the referrer after the
group. Future management decisions are negotiated with the initial referring
worker and the family.
Some families form their own play groups or join other long term community
groups at the end of the P.A.I.R.S. program.
The effectiveness of the P.A.I.R.S. program has been assessed as part of a research project funded through an innovative grant by the Department of Human Services in 1997. Assessment of the infant’s development, the mother-child interaction, and maternal depression is undertaken pre-group and post-group. Feedback regarding this assessment is provided to referrers and families as part of the written report. The program will continue as part of core business for CAMHS. The findings of the research have been very positive and an article describing outcomes illustrated by three case studies is in press for January 2010.
Enquiries
Program Coordinator:
Dr. Jan C. Smith
Telephone:
Telephone/Fax: +61 3 9681 6990
Mobile:+61 416 297354
Email: enquiries@pairs.net.au
VICTORIA Maroondah Dr Sophia Constantinides "Wundeela" Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service Eastern Health Maroondah Hospital 21 Ware Crescent Ringwood East VIC 3135 Telephone: (03) 9870 9788 Fax: (03) 9870 7973 |
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Bairnsdale Vikki White Psychologist Gippsland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Bairnsdale Community Mental Health Service Bairnsdale VIC 3875 Telephone: (03) 5150 3444 Fax: (03) 5150 3377 Email: VWhite@lrh.com.au |
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NEW SOUTH WALES Moruya Bec Young Perinatal Mental Health Worker Eurobodalla Community Mental Health Team Greater Southern Area Health Service Moruya Community Health Centre River Street Moruya NSW 2537 Telephone: 02 4474 1561 Fax: 02 4474 1591 Email: Bec.Young@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au |
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AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERITORY Canberra Hilary Ferguson Child and Family Worker Child and Family Centre, Tuggeranong 159 Anketell Street Greenway ACT 2902 Telephone: 02 6207 53558 Email: hilary.ferguson@act.gov.au |
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QUEENSLAND Brisbane Elisabeth Hoehn Future Families Program Coordinator Child and Youth Mental Health Service Royal Children’s Hospital and Health Service District P.O. Box 1507 Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 Telephone: (07) 3835 1434 Fax (07) 3839 8191 Email: elisabeth_hoehn@health.qld.gov.au |
Training Programs
Training programs may be conducted onsite by arrangement. Workshops can be held periodically on request at regional and interstate sites. Supervision and consultation is available via email or phone by arrangement.
Newsletter
P.A.I.R.S. Resources
PAIRS Resource Order Form Dec 09