Supporting Vulnerable Babies and Young Children
Interventions for Working with Trauma, Mental Health, Illness and Other Complex Challenges
The diverse challenges that clinicians and children's workers tasked with safeguarding babies and young children face are complex, and this unique book looks at effective, practice-based and evidence-informed approaches to working across a wide range of issues.
It outlines relevant theory and good practice, gathering case examples from around the world to illustrate what interventions look like in direct practice. Leading contributors address a wide range of challenges, including babies and very young children who have a serious illness, have complex diagnoses, or have been exposed to violence or adversity in early childhood.
This is an essential guide for those who work to support and safeguard the welfare of babies and very young children, including professionals in health care, social work, mental health and child protection settings, as well as paediatricians, child psychologists and child psychiatrists.
This book is an invaluable resource for everyone interested in infant mental health. Its wide-ranging chapters offer Insights into many areas of intervention. Most impressively, it keeps its focus firmly on the infant and young child, emphasising that their needs and experience cannot and should not be overlooked. A welcome addition to the literature.
I love the book! It is filled with richly detailed case studies and much wisdom!In this accessible and compelling volume, Bunston and Jones have brought together international experts to give voice to infants who have experienced adversity and trauma. The book, which provides sensitive and enlightening clinical vignettes, is an invaluable resource in preparing clinicians and practitioners new to the field, as well as in deepening the understanding and practice of established providers.
This book will prove a source of inspiration, understanding and support to all who work with this neglected group. It provides a reflective, empathic approach to problems of both workers and clients and is packed with practical suggestions and vivid case illustrations.
This masterful collection awakens readers to very young children's urgent and often unexamined needs for social, emotional and relational support following the aftermath of complex traumatic experiences such as removal from one's family home, placement in foster care, witnessing community violence or familial murder, natural disaster, 'shattering homelessness', or' life behind a barbed-wire fence'. Authors hold babies, young children and families in mind as they offer hope, healing and 'reflective tenderness' in face of devastating trauma and complex challenges. This is essential reading for the global community of health, mental health, early childhood and child welfare professionals.
Dr Wendy Bunston has been working with children in recovery from family violence for over 25 years. She has won several awards including the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards in 2006 and 2010 and is a member of the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health. She is based in Victoria, Australia.
Sarah J. Jones is a Mental Health Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Trainer and Supervisor. She has written for a number of publications. She is based in East Melbourne, Australia.