Course information

Let´s talk about children project

 The three-year project (2023-2026) Let’s Talk About Children aims at disseminating and implementing the LTC in nine European countries by training of local LTC Practitioners and LTC trainers. The implementation will be sensitive to the local context and build on the specific needs of each site.

Project actions will either aim to promote positive parenting and family life in families in vulnerable situations, such as parents in mental health services or reception centres for refugees and asylum seekers, or aim to take a universal approach by implementing LTC in primary and secondary school settings, providing a tool for home-school collaboration in order for parents and teachers to better understand the psychosocial needs of the children at home and school. Implementation will be supported by raising awareness on children’s needs also among the public, clinicians and decision-makers. Efforts will be made to include LTC in local, regional and national mental health policies, strategies and action plans. 

Content of the study unit:

The content of Let’s Talk about Children (LTC) –method/intervention trainer training (LTC trainer training) is based on Let’s Talk about Children – method including the logbooks with implementation instructions. LTC is a short evidence-based child-centered psychosocial intervention to promote mental health of children and prevent intergenerational transmission of problems by identifying strengths, resources and everyday solutions for children, parents, and their social network. LTC can be provided by a range of health, social care and education professionals. The LTC approach builds on research and development activities initiated by prof. Tytti Solantaus based at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). LTC-training can be provided by individual who has first hand practitioner experience in LTC and who has undergone the Let’s Talk about Children (LTC) – method/intervention trainer training.

Learning goals:

LTC trainer training (135 h/5 ECTS) study unit aims to provide the student competence to teach the LTC-method/intervention and its theoretical and historical background. Furthermore, after the training, the students are able to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and learning of LTC practitioner training in different service settings, in social- and healthcare setting, and in early education and school setting. The LTC trainer training gives a qualification to independently carry out the LTC practitioner trainings. The training provides competence to carry out teaching and evaluation of the LTC practitioner training, including the counselling sessions and to support the practitioner trainees in their process of becoming practitioners.