AASW Webinar Recording | Words and Pictures: Empowering children and healing trauma in complex child protection cases

Member price: $90.00 including GST (member price will display once logged in)

Non-member price: $180.00 including GST

Working with vulnerable children requires social workers to engage with many family members and professionals in complex and heart-wrenching circumstances.

Social workers may be supporting children to stay at home, to be reunified with their families, or working with those who are in long-term out of home care. In all of these circumstances, the safety and healing of the child depends on strengthening their sense of connection and belonging with their family, community and culture, together with carers they might be living with.

The Words and Pictures methodology is an integral part of safety planning within the Signs of Safety approach to child protection. This methodology uses simple words and stick figures to empower parents to explain complex situations to children without creating blame or shame.

This webinar will introduce participants to Words and Pictures, using case studies to provide a clear understanding of the methodology and its uses.

Participants will be empowered to deepen their approach to safety planning, with an emphasis on walking alongside children, families, carers and other professionals in situations of complex child abuse and neglect.

"Very interesting topic and so relevant to our work with families. I found Penny to be very easy to listen to and valued her sharing of knowledge and practical suggestions" – webinar participant, June 2022.

Who should register? Social workers who work with vulnerable children and their families in child protection contexts.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the Words and Pictures methodology and how it contributes to effective safety planning
• Understand the 14 steps of creating a Words and Pictures explanation with parents
• Utilise the Words and Pictures methodology to simplify complex messages in situations where children have been abused - Identify strategies to actively involve children and families in the safety planning process

AASW Credential: Child Protection