Brain Crew Program

Description
Developing resources, educational material and supports to assist children who have a significant other with an acquired brain injury

Rationale
Brain injury affects the entire family including children or siblings

Many children experience multiple negatives consequences causing child and family distress and compromising rehabilitation gains

Children are infrequently included in the rehabilitation of their loved one and their personal needs for information and support are rarely met

Participants
Children of parents with brain injury

Key Features
To develop a quality intervention that aimed to improve short and long term family adjustment, increase children's understanding of brain injury, expand coping strategies and peer networks and reduce child anxiety, isolation  and emotional or behavioural difficulties.

Comprehensive review of existing evidence and resources

Qualitative semi-structured needs analysis interviews conducted with children and parents (with and without brain injury)

Using the gathered evidence in the development and evaluation of a psycho-educational intervention to assist children when a significant other sustains a brain injury

Funding 
Externally funded with the support of the Clinical Services Evaluation Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (QUIP funding)

Research/Evaluation Strategies
Pilot evaluated with individual interviews with children and parents within two weeks of program completion (qualitative analysed to identify key themes)

Pilot evaluated with focus groups with children and parents conducted three months after program completion (qualitatively analysed to identify key themes)

Ongoing survey evaluation given to children and parents on program completion

Outputs and Outcomes
6 week psycho-educational intervention delivered in a group setting
Children's Brain Crew manuals, parent handouts and facilitator's manuals

Publications
Wright S, Roser J, Smith S, Gauld S, Kuipers P, & Kendall M. (2007). The Brain Crew: An evolving support programme for children who have parents or siblings with an acquired brain injury. The Journal of Cognitive Rehabilitation . Fall, 1-7.

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