Some children need our help....Parental substance misuse is a silent phenomenon. However, current research findings suggest that there could be at least 30% of Australian children who are currently living with a parent or parents who are misusing substance. 
Despite these figures, those who have the most contact with children are often not prepared to support them effectively.
This project aims to address this issue through the implementation of a professional development package for those who are working with children e.g. teachers, child protection workers, family services, community organisations, counsellors, psychologists, maternal health nurses etc.
The package is built around a collection of picture storybooks that provide insight into parental substance misuse from a child's perspective. The aim of the package is to position those working with children in ways that better support them. 

Clink on the link below to listen to the first picture storybook. This book has been written around the issue of parentification. Parentification is when children take on the carer role within the family. This often involves caring for siblings but it also includes caring for parents. This picture storybook is called "Today is a good day".

http://chirb.it/dF3w5I

The funds will be used to....
* Illustrate the picture story books
* Publish the picture story books
* To pilot the intervention and analyse the data from the project
* To buy some time for the project to be refined and adjusted according to the results of the pilot project

The challenges lie in how the materials are received by professionals. The picture story books are confronting and have been designed to provide a true depiction of children's lives when they are living with a parent or parents who are misusing substance. They have been designed to start difficult conversations around sensitive issues. When professionals engage in the project they will be made aware of the counselling supports that are available to them within their organisations.