Fighting for safe and happy childhoods

Berry Street believes all children should grow up feeling safe, nurtured and

with hope for the future.

Berry Street 140: Your opportunity to protect childhood in Australia

Once upon a time, increases in prosperity meant improvements in health and well-being for all children. But research shows us that today, despite our economic advances, the quality of childhood for our most vulnerable children is deteriorating.

Child abuse, neglect and family violence notifications are increasing; and factors such as children’s wellbeing, engagement in education and the prospect of full-time employment for young people, are all headed in the wrong direction.

Berry Street believes we have a duty to bring discussion about a good childhood into the centre of the public domain. And to take vital and sustained action to protect children.

We know that violence is a learned behaviour, and that more must be done in the early years to protect children – to stop the cycle of violence and intergenerational poverty. And yet supporting the recovery of young children in families impacted by violence and abuse is chronically underfunded.

This is the work that Berry Street does, and the work we must extend.

We can’t do this alone. So we have developed an ambitious initiative to bring together the most committed of our supporters to lead the way.

You are one of these people. We invite you to join Berry Street 140 with an investment gift to protect childhood, and children; for now and for generations to come.

When you join Berry Street 140, you’ll help free children from

the cycle of violence and abuse.

What is Berry Street 140?We are asking key, visionary supporters to pledge to Berry Street 140, and commit to helping Berry Street roll out proven models of change.

Being able to count on your support means we’ll be able to help break intergenerational cycles of violence and abuse, and protect future generations of children.

We’ll do this by working right alongside children, within their families or with their carers. So you can be confident that your partnership will give what’s really needed to change behaviours — and help keep children safe.

Why is it called Berry Street 140?

Established in 1877 as the Victorian Infant Asylum, Berry Street’s core activity has always been protecting children and strengthening families. Today — over 140 years later — Berry Street is the largest independent child and family services organisation in Victoria.

Berry Street 140 recognises our 140 year heritage in helping children affected by violence and abuse, and leverages our expertise in these areas. But we can’t do this vital work without your support.

A childhood in dangerChildhood in Australia has become safer for children in so many ways since Berry Street began caring for children back in 1877. However despite changes that have made life safer for children, reports of neglect, abuse and trauma continue to increase.

Even when children are not the direct victims of abuse, growing up in a home with family violence and abuse can be just as devastating. Children exposed to violence experience significant emotional and psychological trauma, and live in a constant state of fear and dread.

These children can no longer be parented ‘normally’. They need urgent help and intervention, to have a chance of recovering.

Violence causes violenceChildren who grow up with violence and abuse live their lives in a state of anxiety and fear. They are forced to worry about their safety every day. They try and predict when the violence will happen, the triggers that could bring it on, and think about ways to protect themselves and their siblings. Many children we see are so focused on staying safe and getting through each day, that they exhibit symptoms of trauma and don’t know how to play or be a child.

Studies show that boys subjected to or witnessing family violence are more likely to consider abusive behaviour in relationships as acceptable. And that girls exposed to violence are more likely to become victims of violence themselves.

“These children live in fear, every single day. The slightest noise can

set them off, the sound of tyres in the driveway makes them run and hide.”

Gayle Correnti, Senior Advisor, Family Violence, Berry Street

Children in CareThe Secure Base model is an internationally recognised therapeutic program, which will help children feel more emotionally and physically stable in out-of-home care and give carers support to stay in their demanding role.

In spite of their best intentions, carers are often ill-equipped to manage highly traumatised children, and this, along with poor reimbursement for their work, frequently causes them to discontinue care when it gets overwhelming. Yet there are more children needing care every year. We must find better ways to support carers, so that we stop the decline of foster and kinship care and provide more help for our most vulnerable children.

Berry Street 140 members will support us in rolling out this internationally recognised program throughout Victoria, supporting foster carers and kinship carers and helping to change the lives of these vulnerable children.

The Secure Base model will be introduced across our Home Based Care programs covering five regions: Shepparton, Ballarat, Morwell, Clayton and Eaglemont; reaching an estimated 80 Home Based Care staff, 650 carers and 1,350 children each year.

The 140 Recovery Model

Through Berry Street’s vast experience in trauma-informed responses, we know that targeted, early intervention can help children recover from exposure to violence. We know that children exist in relationship with family and culture. And these are integral to healing.

In fact, helping children feel safe in their relationships after violence is the single most effective way to ensure their recovery and wellbeing. This means helping a child trust again. And helping them have empathy, so they won’t need to be violent themselves.

It is the only way to prevent the cycle of violence, disadvantage and abuse recurring in both current and future generations. We have developed a three-pronged approach:

Children and dadCaring Dads Plus is a groundbreaking program used internationally, that has been shown to increase the wellbeing and safety of children who have experienced family violence. It is important to work with fathers who have contact with children after family violence, to ensure they take responsibility for their actions and modify their behaviour to help break the intergenerational transmission of violence.

The program engages fathers with capacity for change, and provides them with therapy and parenting skills to help their children, and the whole family, recover from abuse.

The program will be rolled out initially in the Ballarat region, working with fathers and their children, as well as reaching out to mothers to ensure their ongoing safety, and to build their confidence where co‑parenting becomes possible.

Berry Street 140 members will support us in piloting Caring Dads Plus in the Western region of Victoria, to protect children from violence and abuse, and to demonstrate its success as a program that can be expanded throughout Victoria.

Children and mumBerry Street is one of very few organisations providing programs that deliver therapy to help children re-connect with their mothers after they are involved in frightening experiences of violence and abuse.

Children can feel unsafe long after violent events have past, damaging their sense of security and deeply impairing their early development.

Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an evidence‑based intervention model for children who are experiencing trauma as a result of violence and abuse. Berry Street trained therapists will work with families for up to 50 weeks, depending on need.

Berry Street 140 members will support us in piloting an Australian adaptation of the US developed CPP model of care for Victorian women and children who have suffered violence and abuse in Northern Metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat, whilst training other clinicians throughout Victoria and Australia.

“I knew I had to do my part…It was one of those terrible news stories you see — another child’s life taken by domestic violence…And you think, did no one see this coming? Because someone always knows something… and there is always a moment some intervention could have been taken.I decided, I can’t live a comfortable life and do nothing about children suffering in my own backyard. It wouldn’t be Australian. And it wouldn’t be right. I knew I had to do my part.When I looked at the ways I could make a difference, the most powerful impact I could have was through Berry Street. So I joined Berry Street 140.”

Your roleWe need the support of a team of people like you, working together to support this vital work that is helping to change the lives of children and young people in Victoria. Research tells us that each additional person supporting our work inspires others to join, multiplying the impact of each individual commitment.

So I’m hoping that you will help us lead the way. There are two ways you can do this:

1. Would you be able to become part of Berry Street 140 yourself?

2. Are there people you know who you think might be willing and able to consider joining Berry Street 140?

I understand that joining Berry Street 140 is a big undertaking. Yet it’s so vital to the future of our community, and countless children in our reach, that we’re taking the bold step of asking you to become involved.

As a valued partner, we’ll report back to you personally about how your gifts are changing lives through regular project updates, and you’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from our program staff about the work you are helping to make possible.

Message from a 140 member:

We must prioritise the needs of children. Without significant investment in this area, children who have experienced violence and abuse will remain traumatised… and will struggle to build healthy and respectful relationships. The cycle will continue.

With your help and support, we know we can break the cycle of violence and abuse. We can help these children have the best chance of a healthy, happy life.

Michael Perusco, Chief Executive Officer, Berry Street

Our promise to you• We will stretch every dollar as far as possible. We will apply your

investment in Berry Street 140 to yield the best possible outcome for those caught in the cycle of abuse.

• We will tell you how you’re changing lives. We commit to reporting regularly and transparently on all areas of our work that you have invested in.

• We will do what we say we’re going to do. Our program staff will exercise their highest levels of professional skill in order to achieve the above commitments.

• You are free to ask any questions. Berry Street 140 members will have access to regular reports and information about the project you have invested in, through your own Berry Street 140 Relationship Manager.

How to join Berry Street 140If you are willing and able to become a member of Berry Street 140, then first let me say how grateful we are. From children caught in a cycle of abuse, who will be protected from violence and its impact because of your part in Berry Street 140, we thank you.

You’ll receive a call from one of our team members in the next few days, so let us know then that you’d like join Berry Street 140. You can also discuss any questions you might have about this proposal. Your relationship manager’s details are included on the business card attached, so please feel free to call us at any time for more information.

And then smile. You have taken a vital leadership role in the fight against violence. You’ll be helping to break intergenerational cycles of abuse and neglect, to protect current and future generations of children.

Michael Perusco Chief Executive Officer, Berry Street

Central Office1 Salisbury St Richmond VIC 3121T 1800 237 797E supportus@berrystreet.org.auwww.berrystreet.org.au

Thank you to the models who appear in our publications to protect the identity of our clients.