Programs for Children of Parents who have a Mental Illness: Referral and Assessment Practices. “One size fits all”?

Abstract

Given the range of needs and competencies among children whose parents have a mental illness, it is crucial that such children are identified and provided with appropriate support. The first aim of this Australian national study was to ascertain how and by whom children already in a support program were identified for program selection. The second aim was to identify the manner in which children were assessed prior to program entry. In this study, 20 program coordinators, responsible for 19 intervention programs, were asked a series of questions related to referral and assessment practices. Audio transcripts from the interviews were content analysed, along with interrater reliability and member checks. Primarily, children were identified for program intervention from adult mental health agencies and schools. All coordinators cited parental mental illness as the main reason for referral. Coordinators relied on self-constructed questionnaires, referral information, or interviews with children and parents to ascertain children's suitability to programs, their individual needs, and to build rapport. It was found that coordinators did not totally subscribe to a “one size fits all” model of intervention, as a number of otherwise eligible children were excluded and some process refinements were made to programs. Actively listening to children and matching participants’ needs to program goals is strongly encouraged, prior to program entry.