The Duchess of Cambridge visits two Action for Children projects supporting vulnerable families in Wales, her first engagements with the charity since becoming its Patron in December 2016, following on from Her Majesty The Queen.
The Duchess first visited Torfaen to see MIST, a child and adolescent mental health project which works specifically with children who are living in care with foster families or birth families.
The service works with both the young person and their carers or birth family to address complex mental health needs, intervening where it becomes clear the child is at risk of being placed in residential or institutional care, with the aim of keeping the child in their local area, and having as normal a life as possible.
Action For Children cares for disadvantaged children from across the UK, from before they are born until they are into their twenties. The organisation helps all types of families, supporting children and carers through fostering or adoption, and intervening early to stop neglect and abuse.
The Duchess then visited the Caerphilly Family Intervention Team (FIT) to learn about their work with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, problems with family relationships and those who have or who are likely to self-harm.
The Duchess viewed the team’s family therapy work which helps families understand the reasons behind certain behaviour.
The project is delivered by Family Support Practitioners who are trained and supervised by a Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist.