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Young families today are increasingly stressed,
with greater demands and less support. Difficulties in child-rearing and
social isolation exacerbate the problem. The Boroondara Family Network
(BFN) works towards enhancing the potential of children in stressed
families within the Boroondara Municipality, comprising Camberwell,
Hawthorn and Kew, by assisting their parents and other family members cope
with the arrival of the new baby.
The BFN has been operating for the past six
years and is centrally located in the
City of Boroondara. The office is administered
by an experienced and caring Co-ordinator of Volunteers who assists with
the allocation of suitable volunteers to the families in need. All
suitable volunteers undertake thorough training which enables them
to tackle the problems associated with those families who don't have
a social or family network and who
may suffer stress with newborn babies and
very young children. Each of these volunteers makes regular home
visits to their allocated families. In all cases the volunteers
are mothers who have reared families and enjoyed
parenting.
Volunteers provide friendship and support with
parenting, giving commonsense advice on everyday issues and problems which
arise when a new baby arrives in the family. They can give information and
help with access to child care, education, health and social
services.
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The co-ordinator of volunteers reports to a Board
of Management established under Rotary guidelines and maintains a close
working relationship with this Board which is comprises of Rotarians from
clubs
within the Boroondara community and representatives of other community
groups. It is responsible for
the efficient administration of the service and provide
avenues of funding to maintain the Boroondara Family Network.
Studies show that children growing up in stressed
family situations are more likely to suffer from illness, accidents and
injuries, more likely to require hospitalisation, and to develop learning
disabilities. Later in life they will be prone to vandalism, drug and
alcohol problems, suicide and criminal behaviour.
Evaluation of similar services already operating in
New South Wales and USA have shown that support given will:
- Help families to replace damaging
behaviour.
- Assist parents to manage conditions
impeding effective parenting.
- Bring order to households rendered
chaotic by successive and compounding crises.
- Guide families to use community services
with discretion and purpose.
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