1. Review of Maternal and Child Health Service
Human Services Directors’ Forum
24 April 2013
Dr Ro Saxon, HDG Consulting Group

2. Aim
To maintain a high quality, evidence-based universal service for all children and families, while giving priority to, and improving outcomes for, vulnerable children and families.
Objective
To examine the various components that make up the MCH Service informed by the latest evidence, and identify options to enhance, refine or modify the planning, delivery and evaluation of the MCH service in response to existing and emerging challenges.

3. Key concepts 3

4. The MCH Service UNDER TRIAL Additional
Eg. ARACY nurse home visiting trial
Enhanced MCH Service
More intensive support for target group of families with children <1 yr
Target of 7,013 families to receive between hours of service
Supported approx 13,000 clients in
TARGETED SERVICES
Universal MCH Service
Free universal service for children birth to school age
Structured as 6.75 hours over 10 key ages and stages
~ 73,000 newborns and mothers in
400,000 nurse consultations per year
44,040 referrals2 made
TOTAL POPULATION
24 hour MCH Telephone Line - > 100,000 families supported 3 4

5. Policy context Commonwealth
National Framework for Universal Child and Family Health Services
National partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education
National Early Childhood Development Strategy – Investing in the Early Years
National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care
3 year old health check ( Budget) by GPs
National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
FaHCSIA programs, Family Support Services National Collaboration Framework
State
Towards Victoria as a Learning Community
Directions Paper responding to Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry
Victorian Families Statement
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
Improving Victoria’s Early Childhood Workforce
Early Years Strategy (proposed)
Local
Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans
Municipal Early Years Planning Framework and Plans
Planning, co-funding and provision of MCH Services

6. Drivers Respond to increasing pressures
Wellness approach, strength based, informed parents
Improve outcomes for children/families experiencing vulnerability
Strengthen progressive universalism (see over)
Improve service efficiency
Increase emphasis on integrated responses
Improve information management

7. Elements Information Management7
Outcomes and quality monitoring 1
Systems and arrangements supporting collaboration across different services and settings 6
Service delivery model
Structure & activities offered;
Interactions with other services provided 2
MCH Services see all children & their families at every stage of a child’s development
Other policies and programs that support parents 5
The funding model 3
The workforce mix and competency framework 4 7

8. Concepts Progressive universalism Integrated approaches
all children and families have access to services
a progressively greater level of support / intensity to be provided to those who need it
Integrated approaches
The multi-dimensional nature of vulnerability requires an integrated approach from a range of practitioners and sectors
Wellness, strength-based approach
Parents well informed, information and education
Capacity building, build on strengths (not deficit focus)
Flexible responses, choice, self-directed, family diversity
Increased focus on monitoring outcomes

9. Consultation / Discussion Questions
The aim is to maintain a high quality, evidence-based universal service for all children and families, while giving priority to, and improving outcomes for, vulnerable children and families. 9

10. Question 1: What are the biggest challenges for local government in relation to engaging and supporting children/families experiencing vulnerability? e.g. from a systemic, policy, resourcing, service design, data or other perspective?

11. Question 2: How could services, resources or supports could be allocated or arranged so that there is an increased level of support for children/families experiencing vulnerability? What would have the most impact?

12. Question 3: How could a more flexible workforce (such as a multi-disciplinary team) be achieved?

13. Question 4: What challenges and opportunities does this reform offer
Question 4: What challenges and opportunities does this reform offer? Given the broad context of what might be possible, what would you suggest as priorities for the following time frames? - Short term (1-2 years) - Medium term (3-5 years) - Longer term (5-10 years)

14. Other comments or suggestions?
Next steps
Survey
Thank you