The Child and Family Unit (CFU) is the child and adolescent mental health inpatient unit for the Auckland District Health Board. It is located on level one of the Starship building.
CFU is the inpatient facility for the upper region of the North Island (north of and including Taranaki through to Cape Reinga) for adolescents aged from 13 - 18 with significant mental health concerns or suspected mental illness. It is also the inpatient facility for children under 13 years for the North Island.
Model of Practice and Programme:
The model of practice used is bio-psycho-social with a strong focus on family/whanau participation and continuity of care with the referring service.
CFU has a multidisciplinary team approach with nurses, psychologists, support workers, kaiatawhai, social workers, occupational therapists, specialist child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychiatry registrars, a paediatric registrar and teachers.
The school programme runs in conjunction with the therapeutic group programme. Group work includes goal setting, self awareness, coping skills, life skills, communication, art, women's and men's groups, sports and relaxation.
The programme is also available to day patients where young people attend during the school day then go home. Day programmes assist with the transition back into the school/community.