Josh Fergeus PhD Candidate Prof Cathy Humpreys Associate Prof Carol Harvey Prof Helen Herman University of Melbourne

1. Assisting Carers to Respond to the
Mental Health Needs of Children
Josh Fergeus, PhD Candidate j.fergeus@student.unimelb.edu.au
Professor Cathy Humphreys Department of Social Work
Associate Professor Carol Harvey Department of Psychiatry
Professor Helen Herrman Centre for Youth Mental Health
University of Melbourne

2. A Scoping Review
What interventions and/or support increase/s the
capacity of carers to respond effectively to the
mental health needs of vulnerable children in
foster and kinship care?

Prevalence of mental health problems

Interventions enhancing training and support

Gaining access to appropriate services

Placement stability

Breadth of available literature

3. Key themes

Frequency and severity of mental health
problems

Service use

Access to services

Carers as 'gatekeepers' or 'agents of change'

Carer training and support

Interventions involving carers

Attachment and placement stability

4. Methodology

Scoping study methodology

Identification of studies

Criteria for inclusion

Data extraction and analysis

5. Conclusion

Placement stability, predictability, and
attachment to primary caregivers

Skills, experience and commitment of
foster and kinship carers

Need for further research

Interventions focused on carers

6. Conclusion

Placement stability, predictability, and
attachment to primary caregivers

Skills, experience and commitment of
foster and kinship carers

Need for further research

Interventions focused on carers