Infancy: Family and Social Context

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Approx. 120 hours

Clinical experience in a perinatal or child health or mental health or child welfare setting.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the 3 Disability Liaison Unit website : 4 http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The subject will focus on the family and social factors which influence infant development and family relationships, and introduce some of the mental health problems which infants and families may experience.

• to familiarize students with a historical perspective on infant care practices and their relevance to contemporary parenting practice
• to inform students about theoretical models for understanding family processes, dynamics, structure and evolution
• to introduce students to practical and theoretical aspects of child-rearing and the influence of factors on these
• to introduce students to theoretical models for understanding factors influencing transition to parenthood and vulnerabilities in adaptation to parenthood.
• to inform students about some common problems encountered by infants and their parents in early infancy and toddlerhood
• to provide an introduction to models of infant mental health assessment and treatment

• Essay of 4,000 words due end of semester (worth 80%)
• Written assignment of 1,000 words (worth 20%)
• Participation during class (this will be assessed by the facilitator on active discussions during seminars and commenting on prescribed reading) throughout semester (hurdle requirement)

Zeanah, C.H. Handbook of Infant Mental Health, 3rd edition
Thomson Salo F.S. & Paul,C., The Baby as Subject Volume 2, Stonnington Press.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will be able to critically appraise, apply and synthesis theories about family and social factors to identify and describe how the infant’s emotional and social development occurs in the context of family and social factors. Students will be able to recognise and describe common mental health problems and some of the infant mental health approaches to clinical intervention.