The Effective Family working methods have been developed to support child development and prevent disorders when a parent in the family has psychiatric symptoms. In the course of the project the scope of application of the methods has been extended to families with any problems affecting parenthood, such as substance abuse or a physical illness. The methods are also used in child welfare interventions.

'Let's Talk about Children' is an advisory working model that aims to support parenthood and child development in families with parental problems. A clinician who has contact with the parent(s) discusses with them on their children's strengths and vulnerabilities, tells them about the things that protect children in general and identifies causes of concern. The intervention requires one or two encounters. If there is reason for concern about a child/children, a family networking encounter is organised. To support the implementation of the intervention, a manual and guidebooks for parents are available.

The Beardslee Preventive Family Intervention is based on process work with parents. The aim is to help them support their children and to open up discussion on the parent's illness or other problems, thus facilitating problem solving and communication between family members and strengthening the things that protect the child. The work process includes 7 to 8 visits, depending on the number of children in the family.

The course of the Family Intervention (can be modified, if necessary):

• Sessions with parents (2 sessions)
• Sessions with children (1 session/child)
• Preparing for a family session (1 session)
• A family session (1 session)
• A follow-up session (1 session)

In addition, a low-intensive follow-up scheme (1 to 2 visits a year) is agreed on with the parents. The average duration of the meetings is 45 minutes.

A manual and instructions on the principles and stages of the intervention are available for each session.

Family Networking is a method used whenever concern arises about a child in the family, or when there is a need to strengthen the factors that protect the child by establishing a network. The method is based on a network encounter. The parents choose which members of the family network and/or authority network are invited to attend. The aim is to plan what each member of the network can do in order to lessen the concern or to strengthen the factors that protect the child.

A manual is available that describes the principles and the stages of Family Networking.

The Vertti intervention

Vertti is a psychoeducative peer group intervention with 10 group sessions for children and their parents when the parent suffers from depression or bipolar affective disorder. A core element of the intervention is that parent groups and children groups operate side by side and co-operate with each other. The aim is to develop peer support, as well as increase understanding within the family and the child's self-understanding with regard to the parent's mental health problems. The group process starts with initial interviews, further including three common sessions for children groups and parent groups. The intervention aims to increase the child's and the parent's self-understanding and to enhance open interaction within the family. The group process concludes with a family-specific feedback discussion. If the group process gives reason to think that the child, parents or family need outside support, different support options are discussed. The Vertti group model has also been used during family courses.