Abstract for presentation at Global Social Work 2004

Learner's Permits for Parents is a strength's based program which was developed in regional North Queensland. In the year 2000 a number of forums where held in Townsville to highlight the issues for families who fell through the gaps. One particular group was very vocal - the mothers of children with Attention Deficit Disorder - advocacy was their aim. A year later at the Women's Health Summit, a young women told her story of having a mental illness and her endeavors to parent a child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Simultaneously another paper was being delivered which highlighted the blame and abuse that mothers of children with ADD encounter in their everyday lives. The women also reported depression, sleep disorders and anxiety which they believed resulted from the isolation and marginalisation that they experience. These small begins lead to a dynamic partnership of interested professionals, parents with a mental illness and parents of children with ADD/HD. In coming together they developed a innovative, capacity building, parent support program. This program incorporates a range of strategies and solutions that are theoretically based but practical, flexible, sensible and adaptable. Two concurrent pilot groups commenced the program in August 2002. The highly visual program ran over seven weeks and comprised of: orientation, information, relaxation, behaviour management, networking, personal support plans, and a celebration. Evaluations were positive with pre and post program testing revealing an overall reduction in stress, depression and anxiety for all group members. The training of service providers and the delivery of the program is ongoing. Learner's Permits for Parents was developed for the community by the community and has widespread approval from both parents and professionals within regional and rural Queensland. It is an example of a regional community meeting the challenge of living in the twenty first century.