Healthy StartHealthy Start

A national strategy A national strategy for children of parents for children of parents with learning difficultieswith learning difficulties

Healthy Start is an Early Childhood – Invest to Grow initiative, funded by the Australian Government under the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2005-2008.

Establishment phase of a national initiative to support families with parents with learning difficulties

Robyn Mildon (VPC), Jan Matthews (VPC), Catherine Wade (VPC), Olivia Clayton (VPC), David McConnell (USyd), Gwynnyth Llewellyn (USyd) & Gabrielle Hindmarsh (USyd)

Australian Supported Australian Supported Parenting ConsortiumParenting Consortium

The University of Sydney

Victorian Parenting Centre

www.afdsrc.org

www.vicparenting.com.au

Healthy StartHealthy Start

Healthy StartHealthy Start aims to aims to

translate knowledge and research into translate knowledge and research into practice and build capacity across the practice and build capacity across the human service sectors to better meet human service sectors to better meet the needs of these familiesthe needs of these families

Healthy Start Healthy Start objectivesobjectives

Objective 1Objective 1

To develop multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral To develop multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral partnerships: strengthening relationships partnerships: strengthening relationships between organisations at local, state and between organisations at local, state and national levelsnational levels

Objective 2Objective 2

To promote research-informed practice: To promote research-informed practice: disseminating knowledge and evidence-based disseminating knowledge and evidence-based parent education and support resourcesparent education and support resources

Conceptual frameworkConceptual framework

Healthy Start Capacity Implementation Outcomes

Local

State/Territory

National

Adapted from CHHI (Elliott et al, 2003)

Evaluation questionsEvaluation questions

1.1. How successful was the HS strategy in How successful was the HS strategy in building capacity to support parents with building capacity to support parents with learning difficulties and promote a healthy start learning difficulties and promote a healthy start to life for their young childrento life for their young children

2.2. What are the critical success factors and What are the critical success factors and barriers to HS capacity building and barriers to HS capacity building and implementation/practice change processes implementation/practice change processes (i.e., moderating influences)?(i.e., moderating influences)?

Healthy Start activitiesHealthy Start activities

Developing leaders and network partnershipsDeveloping leaders and network partnerships

Disseminating knowledge and innovationDisseminating knowledge and innovation

Generating new knowledge and material Generating new knowledge and material resourcesresources

Developing leaders Developing leaders and network and network partnershipspartnerships

Healthy Start network Healthy Start network State and territory Healthy Start leadersState and territory Healthy Start leaders Recruitment and establishment of local Recruitment and establishment of local

area Healthy Start networks, area Healthy Start networks, Learning Learning HubsHubs

Healthy Start Network: Agency type by Healthy Start Network: Agency type by state/territory state/territory

(n = 1284)(n = 1284)

GovernmentGovernment NongovermentNongoverment

ACTACT 4343 2424

NSWNSW 109109 154154

NTNT 3737 1818

QLDQLD 5555 4848

SASA 9797 3838

TASTAS 4848 3434

VICVIC 232232 237237

WAWA 5656 4141

OtherOther 66 44

TotalTotal 684684 600600

Healthy Start Network: Term that best Healthy Start Network: Term that best describes the agency by state/territorydescribes the agency by state/territory

TotalTotal

Community agency or Community agency or parenting serviceparenting service

515515

Child protectionChild protection 7070

DisabilityDisability 282282

HospitalHospital 3535

MCH ServiceMCH Service 6161

Health (other)Health (other) 6060

Education Dept or SchoolEducation Dept or School 8484

AdvocacyAdvocacy 4444

Research & DevelopmentResearch & Development 2222

OtherOther 147147

Healthy Start Learning HubsHealthy Start Learning Hubs

Learning hubs are multi-disciplinary and cross-Learning hubs are multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral, involving organisations and individuals sectoral, involving organisations and individuals who come into contact with parents with learning who come into contact with parents with learning difficultiesdifficulties

Learning hubs will develop and implement local Learning hubs will develop and implement local area action plans (LAAP)area action plans (LAAP)

Learning hubs and their members are the main Learning hubs and their members are the main point of dissemination and implementation of point of dissemination and implementation of evidence-informed resourcesevidence-informed resources

Healthy Start Learning HubsHealthy Start Learning Hubs

In collaboration with HS leaders and other key In collaboration with HS leaders and other key stakeholders, 72 practitioners across Australia stakeholders, 72 practitioners across Australia have been recruited to convene and lead 67 local have been recruited to convene and lead 67 local area Learning Hubsarea Learning Hubs

Hubs are hosted by 21 government (n = 21) and Hubs are hosted by 21 government (n = 21) and 46 nongovernment agencies (n = 46)46 nongovernment agencies (n = 46)

2

58

111

17

19

2

Example of LAAPExample of LAAPWhy is this action plan needed (rationale)?Why is this action plan needed (rationale)?

What do we want to achieve (goals or aims)?What do we want to achieve (goals or aims)?

How are we going to do this (actions/strategy)?How are we going to do this (actions/strategy)?

How are we going to track our progress (monitoring)? How are we going to track our progress (monitoring)?

What is the time frame (when)?What is the time frame (when)?

How will we know when we’ve been successful or how will we know howHow will we know when we’ve been successful or how will we know how

effective our action plan has been (evaluation)?effective our action plan has been (evaluation)?

Goal achievement Goal achievement – 60 practitioners in the X region who work with– 60 practitioners in the X region who work with

parents with learning difficulties will be trained to work moreparents with learning difficulties will be trained to work more

confidently and be better resourced to work with parents with learning difficulties.confidently and be better resourced to work with parents with learning difficulties.

Goal achievementGoal achievement – Gaps in local services identified and a strategy for the – Gaps in local services identified and a strategy for the

development of a local resource for parents with learningdevelopment of a local resource for parents with learning

difficulties and practitioners to utilise will be completed by mid 2007.difficulties and practitioners to utilise will be completed by mid 2007.

Training and supportTraining and support

Learning hub leaders will complete an accredited Learning hub leaders will complete an accredited USYD on-line graduate unit of study on parenting USYD on-line graduate unit of study on parenting with learning difficulties with learning difficulties

Learning hub leaders have received workshop Learning hub leaders have received workshop training on building network partnerships and training on building network partnerships and developing LAAPsdeveloping LAAPs

All members of Learning Hubs are connected All members of Learning Hubs are connected nationally via the Healthy Start list-servenationally via the Healthy Start list-serve

What is getting in the wayWhat is getting in the way

Time, funding and agency supportTime, funding and agency support Retention of individuals in key positions Retention of individuals in key positions

(e.g., Learning Hub Convenors)(e.g., Learning Hub Convenors) Access to the Healthy Start website and IT Access to the Healthy Start website and IT

elements of the strategyelements of the strategy

How are we overcoming theseHow are we overcoming these

Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory as the theoreticalRogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory as the theoreticalperspective underlying our strategies. His theory has 5 perspective underlying our strategies. His theory has 5

factors:factors:

1. Perceived advantage1. Perceived advantage

2. Consistent or compatible with existing procedures2. Consistent or compatible with existing procedures

3. Simple is better3. Simple is better

4. Gradual implementation in small steps and stages4. Gradual implementation in small steps and stages

5. Presence is observable 5. Presence is observable

Evaluation design and Evaluation design and methodsmethods

OutcomesOutcomes Key result areaKey result area

ProximalProximal CapacityCapacity

ImplementationImplementation

Will/commitment to actWill/commitment to act

Knowledge, skills, resourcesKnowledge, skills, resources

Relationships between orgRelationships between org

Implementation of best practiceImplementation of best practice

Use of evidence-informed resourcesUse of evidence-informed resources

IntermediateIntermediate Family Capacity and Family Capacity and resourcesresources

Parenting competence & Parenting competence & stylestyle

Parent/child relationshipsParent/child relationships

Psychologically healthy parentsPsychologically healthy parents

Parent life skills and self efficacyParent life skills and self efficacy

Connections beyond the familyConnections beyond the family

Positive & effective parenting practicesPositive & effective parenting practices

Parent responsiveness to the childParent responsiveness to the child

DistalDistal Child healthChild health

Child developmentChild development

Prevent illness & accidental injuryPrevent illness & accidental injury

Appropriate & timely response to Appropriate & timely response to symptomssymptoms

Language and communication skillsLanguage and communication skills

Healthy Start websiteHealthy Start website

www.healthystart.net.auwww.healthystart.net.au