1. early matters: strengthening families with an evidence informed framework
Emily McDonald – General Manager, Practice Quality & Evaluation
Sandra Opoku – Evaluations Officer

2. post-natal/post-partum couple/parenting relationships
early matters
early matters seeks to promote and strengthen healthy family relationships at three critical transition points:
post-natal/post-partum couple/parenting relationships
children transitioning from kindergarten to primary school
children in middle to late primary school preparing to transition to secondary school

3. Whole-of-family approach
early matters
Prevention and early intervention service facilitated in universal services (tiered approach)
Creates pathways to engage with families through targeted early intervention
Whole-of-family approach
Targets risk and protective factors for families by integrating multiple interventions
Tailored and effective interventions
Progressive univeralism

4. early matters programs
ATTUNE - a post-natal program for couples that provides knowledge, practical skills and attitudes for good emotional and relationship health.
Tuning in to Kids - a parenting program focused on the emotional connection between parents and kindergarten children.
Confident Kinder Kids - supporting the transition to primary school through greater emotional awareness and regulation, enhanced social skills, and increased confidence and resilience.
I like, like you UP - a healthy relationships program for year six students transitioning to high school.
Home visiting outreach service – in partnership with universal services at risk families are identified and referred for home visiting outreach service at each of the three critical transition stages.

5. Theory of Change
Provide practical skills to manage the complex interplay between interpersonal relationships and an individual's emotional and mental health.
Utilize evidence-based research regarding knowledge and skills for parenting and healthy relationships.
AND
Invite people to consider this through the lens of their own culture and family where they stand with that and how they wish to use it.

6. Evaluation alignment
Our Theory of change informs how our services are delivered as well as what is delivered - an important element of an evidence-informed practice particularly for the most vulnerable families (Moore, 2016). This informs our evaluation.

7. Evaluation design
Program
Data collected
ATTUNE
Participant pre/post questionnaire
Facilitator reports
Tuning into Kids (evidence-based program – AIFS)
Post qualitative questionnaire
ILLY Up (RAV emerging program - AIFS)
Staff and student pre/post questionnaire
Confident Kinder Kids
Staff questionnaire (pre/post)
Home visiting outreach
Qualitative client interviews
Me as a Parent (MaaP)
Program implementation & fidelity
Program data monitoring
Supervision

8. ILLY UP
N = 248 Pre, N = 139 Post
Preliminary evaluation report (May 2016)

9. ATTUNE n = 309 Female, 252 male, statistically significant responses
Roughly 50% male/female participants – demonstrates we have been successful in engaging fathers which has been a gap (Fletcher, 2013).
Statistically significant results
Extracted Oct 2017

10. Me as a Parent: Pre = 82, Post = 56
Home Outreach Visits
Me as a Parent: Pre = 82, Post = 56
Most referrals from TIK, and MCH, playgroup, ILLY
Average session = 1.5, most = 5
Total completed home outreach visits = 102
21 male
MaaP perceptions of competence, capacity

11. What we have learned
We know what works- evidence based practice! Greater focus on ‘how’ & making programs work within family contexts.
Implementing evaluation - the importance of program staff understanding the theory of change – translates into delivery and data collection.
Flexible and tailored approach important to engaging vulnerable families.
Successful in engaging fathers through antenatal programs.
Promotes knowledge, skills and attitudes for healthy relationships and mental health.
Important elements of the model – community engagement, multi-disciplinary team, responsive, culturally appropriate.