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Berry Street – Professional Learning and Development
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    • Berry Street Education Model
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    • Berry Street Initiatives
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Take Two

Take Two

Take Two is the Victorian statewide therapeutic service for children (0-18) who have experienced significant abuse and/or neglect. Take Two is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services to deliver high quality clinical services to Child Protection clients. The funding also enables Take Two to deliver training and practice development (through Berry Street's Professional Learning & Development team) to the statutory child protection sector, and to undertake research and evaluation projects which add to the knowledge base around interventions for this particular client group. Take Two is a partnership between Berry Street, La Trobe University, Mindful and VACCA (the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency).

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Take Two

Presentation

Latest Research Projects

The Take Two program has an ongoing evaluation approach based on an action-research model including both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The Research and Evaluation team has published three evaluation reports on Take Two, and a number of peer-reviewed journal articles and reports.

Working with Child Survivors following filicide in a family

Child survivors can be lost from sight following the aftermath of filicide. Over 13 years Take Two has worked with 159 children impacted by a traumatic violent death - 78 of whom had a parent who had killed a close family member. This project analyses the care system response to these children, the presence of complicating factors in the family, and the child’s progress in treatment with Take Two. 

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Working with Child Survivors following filicide in a family

Sensory Stuff: The Role of an Occupational Therapist within a therapeutic service for child protection clients

A specialist Occupational Therapist in Take Two provides trauma-informed assessment and consultation services to families, carers, clinicians and education settings, and the impact of this role has been evaluated.

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Sensory Stuff: The Role of an Occupational Therapist within a therapeutic service for child protection clients

Exploring the incidence of sensory processing difficulties in children

Children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect often develop self-regulatory strategies which impact on their capacity to engage in day-to-day activities and relationships. This study looked at Take Two clients aged 7 months to 7.10 years (n=53) who were assessed using the carer-rated Sensory Profile (Dunn 2014), between February 2016 and March 2017. 

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Exploring the incidence of sensory processing difficulties in children.

Evaluation of feedback from child, family and professional consumers of Take Two program in Victoria

Take Two feedback surveys gather quantitative and qualitative information from consumers of the program. Analysis explores the (a) experience of consumers, in particular children, (b) factorial structure of the survey, (c) association between perceived satisfaction with the service and perception of positive change, and (d) research and clinical implications of the findings.

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Evaluation of feedback from child, family and professional consumers of Take Two program in Victoria.
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Resources

Take Two disseminates knowledge via articles in peer reviewed academic journals, conference presentations, training forums, and reports. We have a strong commitment to building knowledge about the needs of our client group and the interventions which promote strong relationships and positive outcomes.

Report

Take Two: First Evaluation Report

Evaluation of Berry Street's Take Two program, in conjunction with La Trobe University, Mindful and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.

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Report

Give Sorrow Words (Take Two: Second Evaluation Report)

The second evaluation report of Berry Street's Take Two program, undertaken by Berry Street Take Two and La Trobe University in 2004 and 2005.

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Report

More than Words (Take Two: Third Evaluation Report)

The third evaluation of Berry Street's Take Two program, undertaken by Berry Street Take Two and La Trobe University between 2004 and 2007. 

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Conference Presentations

In line with our commitment to dissemination of our knowledge and research, Take Two submits abstracts and presents papers at conferences and other forums both in Australia and internationally. In 2017-18 these included:

  • OPEN Research Symposium, Melbourne, Australia
  • 6th Australasian Mental Health Outcomes and Information Conference, Brisbane Australia 
  • National Occupational Therapy Conference, Perth, Australia
  • 7th SNAICC National Conference, Canberra, Australia
  • Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Conference, Melbourne, Australia
  • International Foster Care Conference (IFCO), Malta
  • Addressing Filicide 3rd International Conference, Prato, Italy
  • World Association for Infant Mental Health Conference, Rome, Italy
  • 3rd International Neurosequential Model Symposium, Banff, Canada
Conference Presentations
Innovations

Practice Innovations

Take Two engages in practice innovations to build knowledge and service system improvements. This occurs through implementation of evidence based interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR) and Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) within an evaluation framework. An innovative program The Community Wellbeing Program – CWP is currently being provided by Communities for Children East Gippsland facilitated through Uniting Care in partnership with Berry Street Take Two. CWP has been assessed as meeting the Promising Program criteria by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (FaC Expert Panel).

Community Wellbeing Program

The Community Wellbeing Program, delivered by Take Two in Bairnsdale, aims to engage and connect children and their families with their primary schools. There is a focus on social and emotional wellbeing and bringing a trauma-focused approach to school engagement with young people, particularly Indigenous young people.

The Community Wellbeing Program has been assessed as meeting the Promising Program criteria by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (FaC Expert Panel).

Community Wellbeing Program

Eye Movement Desensitization and Re-Processing

Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and some clinicians in Take Two have undertaken EMDR training. EMDR seeks to support the client to resume adaptive processing of traumatic memories, through carefully regulated exposure to the traumatic memory, using an eight-phase treatment model. The EMDR treatment framework articulates the process in a step by step intervention, which targets past experience, current triggers, and future potential challenges. It offers a systemised way to conceptualise the stages and treatment for processing traumatic memories and experiences.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Processing

Child Parent Psychotherapy

Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an evidence based treatment for young children who have experienced family violence. CPP examines how the trauma and the caregivers’ relational history affect the caregiver-child relationship and the child’s developmental trajectory. A central goal is to support and strengthen the caregiver-child relationship as a vehicle for restoring and protecting the child’s mental health. Treatment also focuses on contextual factors that may affect the caregiver-child relationship (e.g., culture, and socioeconomic and immigration related stressors). Several Take Two staff are completing the CPP training in 2017/18 (Lieberman, Van Horn & Gosh Ippen, 2016).

Learn more about Berry Street's implementation of CPP.

Child Parent Psychotherapy

Berry Street Take Two as an NMT Flagship site

Take Two is a pioneer in the application of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT).

ChildTrauma.org NMT Flagship

The NMT is an approach to assessing and planning interventions with maltreated infants, children and young people, developed by Dr Bruce D. Perry of the ChildTrauma Academy (CTA).

Take Two is currently the only NMT Flagship site in Australia or New Zealand.

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Take Two as an NMT Flagship

Current Grants

Take Two applies for additional grant monies from a variety of philanthropic bodies to further its practice and research agenda.

Kelly Foundation

A 2015-18 grant was used to employ an Occupational Therapist, to integrate the understanding of the physical and sensory needs of Take Two clients into effective intervention plans and treatment.

A 2018-21 grant is being used to employ a speech pathologist to address the significant speech and language needs of the Take Two client group.   

Foundation of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies

In 2017-18 we have used a grant to develop a resource for Early Childhood professionals to help them to care for and educate traumatised babies, toddlers and young children. The content of this resource draws on the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (ChildTrauma Academy) and from research and practice in therapeutic preschools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Take Two evidence based practice?

Take Two has published three evaluation reports:

  • Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Black, C. (2005) Reflections on Complexity — Take Two First Evaluation Report. Bundoora: La Trobe University.
  • Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Black, C. (2006)."Give Sorrow Words" — A Language for Healing: Take Two Second Evaluation Report 2004—2005. Bundoora: La Trobe University. 
  • Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Black, C. (2010) More than Words: The Language of Relationships. The Third Evaluation of the Take Two Program. Bundoora: La Trobe University. 

The program has been cited as Promising Practice (CCCH, 2016) and as the only Australian Emerging A service model identified in the report by Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and Parenting Research Centre (2013).

The Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet have commissioned Harvard University to conduct an evaluation of Take two, utilising a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) design. This project commenced on 1st January 2018 and has received ethics approval from Harvard University and DHHS (Vic).

Why are you called Take Two?

One of the most frequently asked questions of the service is to explain the name of Take Two. The answer is that it has a number of meanings relating to the following concepts:

  • Children or young people who have experienced trauma need a second chance at enjoying life through the process of recovery; 
  • Recovery takes two people (the client and the clinician or a significant other) and that the clinician needs to also work with others. It is not feasible that the clinician alone will be able to offer healing. 
  • Recovery takes relationships – the child or young person cannot recover from trauma in isolation and we cannot provide a therapeutic service in isolation from others.

What are the Take Two research priorities?

The emphasis of the Take Two research is on gathering and building knowledge and accurate information to inform best practice and better outcomes for children and young people in the Child Protection system.

The principals guiding the Take Two Research Strategy include:

  • Ethical research that is mindful of the vulnerability of the population being studied
  • A commitment to knowledge translation
  • Collaboration in relation to knowledge transfer
  • Research efforts directed to improving the lives of traumatised and vulnerable children 

Areas which will become the focus for research activity over the next three years

  • Developmental trajectories and vulnerabilities for traumatised children
  • Aboriginal children and their social and emotional wellbeing
  • Interventions and outcomes for traumatised children
  • Longitudinal outcomes for traumatised children
  • Participatory research with traumatised children
  • Education & workforce development

What is the research governance?

Take Two Research is overseen by Prof Margarita Frederico, Associate Professor, Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health, School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University.

Who are the partners involved with Take Two?

Take Two is auspiced by Berry Street and is a partnership with La Trobe University, Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health, and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).

Mindful (University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry) has the primary responsibility in supporting the Take Two clinical practice development and training functions. 

The Mindful Director also provides secondary psychiatrist consultation and provides clinical governance advice to the whole program.

VACCA is the largest Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO). It provides consultation and advice to Take Two regarding its work with Aboriginal children and the community. This is important due to the over‐representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system, reflected in the Take Two population.

La Trobe University Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health is a partner in the Take Two program with a leadership role in the research and evaluation strategy. The Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health is part of the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering. The Take Two research team is co-located at the Bundoora campus and the Berry Street Eaglemont office. 

Although LaTrobe University’s relationship with Take Two is with the Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health, on occasion that Department supports or creates opportunities for Take Two to work collaboratively with other disciplines such as Human Communication Sciences or Occupational Therapy. Similarly the primary relationship between Take Two and LaTrobe University is in relation to research although they also collaborate on other projects such as education and training.

How can I get involved?

Take Two employ almost 100 staff in 14 different locations. There are opportunities for employment, clinical education and research projects. 

What is the Take Two practice framework?

Take Two is largely informed by trauma and attachment theories with a developmental, ecological and cultural perspective.

The Take Two approach emphasizes the need to understand the children and young people’s experience of trauma and disrupted attachment within their context, including cultural identity. Take Two aims to intervene at multiple levels to harness resources available to the children and young people and to build on their strengths. In addition to tailoring interventions to the child or young person, Take Two seeks to develop a culture in which staff engage in knowledge development and dissemination (Jackson, Frederico, Tanti, & Black, 2009).

What is the Take Two scholarship

This prestigious scholarship, established by Berry Street’s Take Two Program which is in partnership with La Trobe University, Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health and Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). The scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Robin Dennis Clark (1936–2001), a visionary and leader who has greatly influenced current practice in Victorian child, youth and family services. It will be next available in 2019. 

Previous Scholarship recipients:

  • Dr Robyn Miller: Thesis Title: “Walking the Same Talk”. Promoting cultural reform in Victorian Child Protection and Family Services through the best interest case practice model.
  • Dr Prue Atkins: Thesis Title: The Influence of Organisational Context in the Practice Implementation Process. 

Current Scholarship Holder: 

  • Carly Black: Thesis Title: The role of cultural connection in healing for Aboriginal children in out of home care

Contact

For general enquiries please contact our Central Office:

Address: 1 Salisbury Street, Richmond VIC 3121

Phone: 03 9429 9266

Fax: 03 9429 5160

Email: learning@berrystreet.org.au

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Berry Street acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners, their elders past, present and future, and to their cultures.

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