Report-back Seminar “ Early Intervention ” in Family and Preschool Children Services Outcome Framework and Critical Success Factors / Principles

Evidence base of community based early intervention program (Family First, 2004, p.2). Evidence of brain development Early childhood research suggests that good early childhood development program can improve children’s behavior, learning and health in later life Old et al 1997, Beurrueta- Clements, 1984). Early intervention services have the greatest impact when they can address a broad range of issues and are provided as part of a coordinated network (Loeber and Farrington, 1998; Wilson and Dunne, 1998) Effective parenting relies not only on the capacity of an individual or family, but also on the health of a neighborhood and community (Garbarino, 1992; Vinson, 1999)

Bronfenbrenner ’ s ecological system Social and political environment Employment rate, policies, funding Community Health services housing disability social capital school preschools childcare Social support network Peers and friends, Church, neighbors, Extended family family child

Outcome Framework Child outcome Indicators 1.Child physical development 1.1 Antenatal and birth data 1.2 breastfeeding 1.3 Immunization 1.4 Child injuries 1.5 Child oral health 2. Child social and emotional 2.1 Child social and emotional development development 2.2 Child mental health 3. Child educational 3.1 Under school age development participation 3.2 Preparation for school 3.3 Educational achievement 3.4 Participation in education

Outcome Framework Family outcomes Indicators 4. Mental health and wellbeing 4.1 Maternal health and wellbeing 5. Family relations 5.1 Family relations 6. Family participation outside 6.1 Employment, education the household and participation 7. Risk of harm 7.1 Child protection 7.2 Domestic violence

Outcome Framework Community outcomes Indicators 8. Community networks and 8.1 Community cohesion Programs 8.2 Facilities and programs 8.3 Participation and consultation 9. Criminal activity 9.1 Juvenile and adult crime 10. Housing 10.1 Housing stability

The time scale 2-5 years before a decrease in risk factors., e.g. improvement in age appropriate social development, earlier identification of mental care needs of children years before an enhancement in positive and healthy development, e.g. decrease in school absenteeism, decreases in children’s emotional and behavioral problems, decrease in smoking, drug and alcohol problems years before a vision for a healthy community is embedded in the social contexts and institutions of a community, e.g. positive changes in educational participation and outcomes, in particular from socio-economic disadvantaged background.

Evidenced effectiveness (Katz, 2005) Consistent evidence on intensive interventions with parents and children focusing on learning skills; Quality child care (for the most deprived children) and whole school approaches Home visits by professionals received more evidence than home visiting volunteers Multiple interventions (Workfare + parenting/childcare) vs single interventions (Workfare) Case management vs join up services Community development vs social support.

Critical Success Factors / Principles (Ramey & Ramey, 1992, cited in Katz, 2005). Are more intensive and have active participants. Begin earlier and last longer, as well as providing ongoing support to maintain early gain. Provide comprehensive rather than narrowly-focused services Direct services to children instead of expecting to achieve effects on children through parents’ effort only.

Critical Success Factors / Principles (Katz, 2005) A broader perspective on outcome Context Service input is only part of any potential solution Focus on the right person Appropriateness of services Workforce – training and qualifications Importance of implementation: It is not what you do but the way you do it (Katz, 2005)

References Garbarino, J. And Kostelny, K. (1992). Child maltreatment as a community problem. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, Katz, I. (2005). Prevention and early intervention – research and policy issues, power-point file of a talk delivered on Loeber, R. and Farrington, D. (1998). Never too early, too late: Risk factors and successful interventions for serious and violent juvenile offenders. Studies on Crime and crime prevention, 7 (1). Vinson, T. and Baldry, E. (1999). The spatial clustering of child maltreatment. Trend and Issues in Criminal Justice, AIC Canberra, June, Wilson, C. and Dunn, E. (1998). Factors identifiable from longitudinal child development studies in the prenatal and early childhood years (0-5) which lead to disadvantage in later life. Australia: Office for Families and Children.