VISION AND VALUES FOR CHILD AND FAMILY WELLNESS:

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Workshop Presented at the 8^th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect

Professor Isaac Prilleltensky

Director, Wellness Promotion Unit

Department of Psychology

Victoria University, POBox 14428 Melbourne City MC 8001, Australia

Email: Isaac.Prilleltensky@vu.edu.au

ABSTRACT

This workshop is intended to articulate vision and values for child and family wellness and to plan strategies for translating the vision and values into practice. This workshop will be a follow up to the keynote address presented by Professor Prilleltensky at the conference. The workshop will address the following issues: (a) vision and values for child and family wellness, (b) best practices, programs and policies in child and family wellness, (c) practices, programs and policies in participants’ organisations, and (d) plan of action for putting vision and values into practice in participants’ organisations.

INTRODUCTION

Practitioners, managers, teachers, psychologists, and child welfare workers struggle with the implementation of values and best practices in their work. Numerous factors interfere with the enactment of value-based visions for children and families. Based on the international study directed by Professor Prilleltensky, this workshop is designed to formulate strategies to overcome barriers in the quest for value-based practice (see Prilleltensky, Nelson, & Peirson, 2001). The workshop will consist of four segments:

Part I: Articulate vision and values for child and family wellness

In this section we will address the following questions:

• What is our vision of a healthy society?
• What are the values conducive to our vision?
• What values doe we already practice in our work?
• What values are we missing in our work?

Part II: Review of best practices, programs, and policies in child and family wellness

In this section we will review the following:

· Conceptual frameworks (cake of ecology, eyeball of prevention)

· Best programs in wellness promotion and abuse prevention

· Best policies in child and family wellness

Part III: Review of practices, programs and policies in participants’ organisations

This section will deal with:

· Strengths of practices, policies and programs in participants’ organisations

· Perceived weaknesses of practices, policies and programs in participants’ organisations

Part IV: Recommend plan of action for putting vision and values into practice in participants’ organisations

This final part will address the following questions:

· How can we strengthen positive practices?

· How can we avoid practices that are not congruent with vision and values?

CONCLUSION

Through an examination of value-based and evidence-based policies, programs and practices, participants will be able to assess how their own organisations are performing in the field of child and family wellness. The workshop will provide strategies for assessing and making a difference in diverse settings.

REFERENCE

Prilleltensky, I., Nelson, G., & Peirson, L. (2001). Promoting family wellness and preventing child maltreatment: Fundamentals for thinking and action. University of Toronto Press.