Emotion-Based Social Skills Facilitator Training in May 2016

SAVE THE DATE

Emotion-based Social Skills Facilitator Training for Children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome will be held on 19th and 20th May 2016
 
“Emotion-based Social Skills Training” (EBSST) is an innovative mental health promotion program developed at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, aged 8 to 12 years, their parents and teachers.
 
EBSST has been researched since 2004 and evaluated in over 300 Department of Education and Communities NSW public schools. Findings indicate improvements in children’s social and emotional skills up to 6 months after intervention, compared with children not receiving EBSST.
 
Emotion-based Social Skills Facilitator Training for ASD and Mild ID scheduled for 27th and 28th October 2016
 
For enquiries please contact Phuong Pham (phuong.pham@health.nsw.gov.au) or Rebecca Low (rebecca.low@health.nsw.gov.au)
Ph: (02) 9845 2005 / Fax: (02) 9845 2009

New Issue of the Journal of Mental Health for Children and Adolescents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for 2015

Volume Six, Issue Two, October 2015

The latest edition of the MHCAIDD journal is now available.  

Highlights include:

• The Developmental Psychiatry Clinic by Associate Professor David Dossetor
• Introducing the Practice Improvement Framework by Katelynd Turner
• The Medicine Cabinet: Propranolol by Judy Longworth
• Taking Time: A Trauma Informed Framework for Supporting People with Intellectual Disability by Jackson and Waters
• Occupational Therapy and working with children and adolescents with intellectual/developmental disability and mental health problems by Sarah White
• Learning and Support Teams by Department of Education
• Conference Report: European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ESCAP) 2015 Madrid by Associate Professor David Dossetor

Happy reading and we look forward to your feedback!
The School-Link Team

ASPECT Newsletter Special Focus on Mental Health & Wellbeing

This month ASPECT shift the focus to mental health and wellbeing, taking a look at the importance of strong support networks, as well as the emotional challenges associated with social isolation. 

The newsletter looks at how understanding the correlation between autism spectrum disorders and mental health challenges can lead to significant improvements in wellbeing and positive long term outcomes for children and adults on the spectrum.

Read articles by Dr David Dossetor, Dr Julian Trollor and more.

Link available here 

Traffic Lights: the App

The Traffic Lights® App helps adults to identify, understand and respond to children’s sexual behaviour.

The App is based on the Traffic Lights® framework used by child protection authorities around the world. It supports the development of healthy sexuality and protects young people from harm and abuse.

Traffic Light colours are used to describe whether a specific behaviour is normal or not. It follows a logical structure:

- Enter the child’s age, sex and type of behaviour
- Identify whether the behaviour is green, orange or red by clicking the traffic light colours
- Swipe to see the possible reasons for this behaviour and how you might respond

Most sexual behaviours of children and young people are normal and healthy. However, please note that laws vary from place to place. While green light behaviours are normal and healthy, they may not be legal in every jurisdiction.

The app is currently available for $2.49. It has been developed by Family Planning Queensland who have some other great disability specific teaching resources which you can access here: http://www.fpqteachers.com.au/learning-resources/special-education/ 

Journal of Mental Health for Children and Adolescents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for 2015

The first journal for 2015, Volume 6 issue 1 is now ready for your reading pleasure. Highlights include:

• NDIS article by David Dossetor on page 4;
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Implications from the changes in DSM-V by Louisa Carroll on page 12;
• The Medicine Cabinet: FAQs for Allergies and Anaphylaxis by Judy Longworth on page 16;
• The Community Room: Connecting schools, support agencies and families and transforming lives by Michelle Montgomery on page 18;
• Developmental Disabilities, Challenging Behaviour and Mental Health: Research to Practice and Policy– Conference Review by Rowan Keighran on page 20;
• Book Excerpt: Ten things every child with Autism wishes you knew by Ellen Notbohm on page 23;
• Equal before the Law: Towards Disability Justice Strategies by Terry Sarten on page 26;
• The Client Monitoring and Review System (CMRS) by Rachel Rowles and Lesley Whatson on page 28;
• Interview with Professor Julian Trollor on page 32.