E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Presenter: Dr Katherine Dix Other members of the evaluation team in the Flinders Centre for the Promotion of Well-being and Prevention of Violence in Education Phillip Slee, Michael Lawson, Alan Russell, Helen Askell-Williams, Laurence Owens, Grace Skrzypiec, Barbara Spears

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Improving mental health: Aspects and Directions KidsMatter The Broad Impact of KidsMatterStudents at Risk and those with DisabilityOther Positive Aspects and ChallengesIssues around Quality of ImplementationIssues around Sustainability and OutcomesEvaluating Early Childhood

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 The broad impact of KidsMatter “KidsMatter has changed school culture. It’s changed the way the school views mental health. It’s given a greater awareness, but it’s also changed the way people relate to one another, particularly the students, and the way the classrooms operate.” (School Principal)

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Improving Mental Health Strengths for students at risk Using Goodman’s (1999) terminology

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Reducing Mental Health Difficulties for students at risk Using Goodman’s (1999) terminology

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Students at greatest risk are those with Disability Based on students in the South Australian KidsMatter Schools

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Improving Mental Health for students at risk Based on students in the South Australian KidsMatter Schools Time

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 “This is not an initiative for poor schools with disadvantaged families, it’s an initiative for all children in primary schools and all types of schools.” (School Principal )

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Impact, 4 Components and 7-Steps

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 These positive outcomes did not come without their challenges

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Quality of KidsMatter Implementation: Is it sustainable?

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Quality Assurance of KidsMatter : Are there other outcome measures?

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Evaluation of KidsMatter Early Childhood ATP: Australian Temperament Project STRS: Student-Teacher Relationship Scale SDQ: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire 111 KMEC Sites around Australia Quantitative Whole Cohort Study For all children aged 1-4 years in care for 10 hours or more per week 4 Times, all sites Staff and Parents Paper-based questionnaire Items about context, beliefs and attitudes Non-KMEC Comparison Group: LSAC Data Age range 2-3: Toddlers 4-5: Kindy Parents ATP ATP & SDQ Staff STRS STRS & SDQ Mixed Facilitators’ Study 4 Times all sites Facilitators Online Survey Leadership Summary 1 Time all sites Directors Word Document Qualitative Photo-Voice Study 1 Time some sites Staff and Parents Pictorial data with thematic analysis Reflections on Practice Study 4 Times all sites Leadership Focus group activity KMEC Action Teams

E V A L U A T I O N ICAP, Melbourne, July 2010 Further Directions There is a need for further work into: Mental Health and students at risk, including those with a disability Differences in parent and teacher ratings of Mental Health Identifying other factors that impact on the quality of KidsMatter implementation and its sustainability Identifying other outcome measures eg. Academic performance Developing a quality assurance system that is an integrated part of KidsMatter, suitable for school and early childhood settings