| Popis: |
A child’s development in the first five years of life has the potential to influence future educational attainment and wellbeing into adulthood. Australia has universal child health and development screening programs available from birth to school entry. However, there are significant issues relating to equitable access, with research demonstrating low levels of uptake in disadvantaged communities. The Check-Ups Before School (CUBS) project sought to redress current inequities within the greater Mt Druitt area of NSW. This initiative was led by The Hive in collaboration with NSW Health and early childhood education and care services. Child and family health nurses (CFHNs) were embedded within local early childhood education and care settings to conduct health and development screening for children in the prior-to-school years. This report presents an overview and findings from a research study designed to explore the feasibility and impact of the CUBS pilot project. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including interviews and focus groups with parents and carers (n=48), community service providers (n=3), and health and educational professionals (n=10). Data from the child health records (n=24) of consenting families were examined to assess local need and referral pathways. Study findings suggest that the location of the CUBS program in familiar early childhood education (ECE) and community settings was effective as a strategy for engaging families. Participants reported that the program was effective in engaging families with health and development screening, building parents’ confidence in communicating with healthcare services, and increasing their knowledge about child development and how they can support their own child. Through coordinated cross-disciplinary collaboration, health and education professionals and social workers at The Hive successfully delivered a holistic, place-based service in which relationships with families were built on trust. |
