AIDES INITIATIVE February 26, 2015 Pascal Plamondon-Gomez and Lisa Ellington Presentation – Health Forum 1

AIDES INITIATIVE: What is it? 2 Intersectoral action for child development and their safety  An approach that is focused on children’s needs: well- being, safety and development (0-18 years)  Ecosystemic practical intervention aimed at improving collaboration between: Parents Children Workers Concerned partners  It strives for a common understanding of the needs of children and their families.

3 AIDES INITIATIVE: What is it?  The tools: Analytical framework (points of reference on needs) Participatory approach Common analysis grid on the child’s developmental needs Preliminary analysis grid on the child’s developmental needs Analysis booklet on the child’s developmental needs

In Quebec: AIDES Initiative (summary) Training a group of practitioners and researchers to adapt the Assessment framework (tools from England) Testing of tools and development of a participatory approach with parents and intersectoral partners

In Quebec: AIDES Initiative (cont’d) Experimentation with a hundred children: CJ and CSSS (regions 04, 06 and 17) Tweaking of the tools, development of practice guidelines Starting from 2013 Training provided in various regions of Quebec and 2 nd phase of the AIDES project

Favourable context Modifications to the Youth Protection Act (2007): promoting the participation of parents and youth in all decisions that affect them. Openness of the social service institutions in order to go from a practice focused on PROBLEMS towards a practice focused on the DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN. An increasing amount of partnerships between the First Nations organisations and the province (e.g. collaboration agreements). 6

For who? “It takes a village to raise a child” 7 Education network (elementary and high schools) Organisations associated with employment Primary services Cultural organisations (recreational services, etc.) Youth centre, family centre, women’s centre, organisations for men, street worker, etc. The child’s parents and the family and social network of the child and his/her family (relatives, friends, neighbours) Early childhood network (ECC, family child care service) Other partners Police department Health centre (services intended for children and/or parents) E.g.: MCH nurse, NNADAP agent, mental health worker, etc. Youth protection services

Consequences for children: Optimal development  Is now front and centre  Receiving support from the people (family network and partners) who are concerned by the child’s well- being, safety and development  *Not only for those ages 0 to 6 years, but also for those ages 0 to 18 years! 8

Consequences for parents: Participation and power to act  Sharing a common understanding of the needs of your child and family  Enabling them to focus on their strengths  Creating an opportunity to rally, discuss and be listened to  Offering the opportunity to learn together  Providing objective and impersonal information  Reduce asymmetric relationships and confrontation  Awareness-raising effects  Promoting understanding of the intervention plan 9

Consequences for the partners: Effectiveness of the services and improvement of the collaboration  Providing: Common terminology Clear points of reference on child development The same parameters to define their needs and progress  Promoting information exchanges  Facilitating referrals 10

Consequences for the partners: Effectiveness of the services and improvement of the collaboration (cont’d)  Offering support for the planning of actions and services: Overall picture of the strengths and difficulties influencing the response to the child's needs By better prioritising the actions to be taken  Providing complementary assistance to families  Providing practical support for the implementation of actions  Sharing responsibilities 11

AIDES INITIATIVE THE TOOL: ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK 12

Spirit of the framework: Principles and foundations 1.Ecosystemic analysis of the child development needs 2.Participation of the child and his/her parents and family 3.Inter-professional and inter-organisational collaboration; partnership is a prerequisite 4.Based on theoretical foundations and concepts (attachment, parenting skills, the family’s strengths, empowerment) 13

ECOSYSTEMIC ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ON THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT NEEDS 14

Several practical tools support the framework E.g.: common grid and preliminary analysis guide 15

COMING SOON: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AND SELECTION OF 2 PILOT COMMUNITIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AIDES INITIATIVE IN

17 “Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success.” – Henry Ford