The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children Indicators (available at ) Children’s Headline Indicators (available at ) The National Youth Information Framework (available at ). In practice, caution should be used where population level indicators are used to measure the impact of a particular program. Often, individual programs are not of sufficient size to shift a population level indicator. Methodology The evidence base for early intervention that underpins this Framework is based on two extensive and recently completed literature reviews: Better systems, better chances: A review of research and practice for prevention and early intervention. Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (). Best practices to breakthrough impacts: A science-based approach to building a more promising future for young children and families () These reviews were examined to determine their key themes, the types of interventions to be considered, and the relevant client outcomes for early intervention. Identifying literature After examining the above reviews, we conducted an additional search of academic literature published from 2013 onwards to obtain research that may have been released subsequent to their release. We searched Scopus, Informit and Google Scholar databases, using the following search terms: “prevent*” OR “risk” OR “targeted” OR “Universal” OR “early intervention” OR “support” OR “primary” OR “Parent” OR “school readiness” OR “education” OR “wellbeing” OR “capability*” OR “family” These were combined with 3 cohort searches using the following terms: a. “0-3 years” OR “infant” OR “child” OR “toddler” OR “1000 days” “first” OR “bab*” OR “preschool” OR “pre school” OR “boy*” OR “girl*” AND “development*” b. “young” OR “teen” OR “adolescent” AND “parent” c. “Aboriginal” OR “Indigenous” OR “First Nation” AND “cultur*” OR “safe” OR “competent” OR “focused” OR “specific” OR “intelligence” OR “self-determination” OR “community”. This search produced another 334 articles that were reviewed.
Impact pathway link Factor Measurement tool Type of indicator Child-parent relationship Maternal Emotional Style Maternal Emotional Styles Questionnaire (MESQ) 14 item scale () Program level Family cohesion Proportion of families who report ‘good’, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ family cohesion Population level (NFPAC, LSAC) Child behaviour Bullying Early Childhood Bullying Questionnaire () 11 item version (4-5.5 years) 12 item version (6-10 years) Program level Child Behaviour Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire () Program level Peer relationships Social connections Items from the Child Health Questionnaire (https://www.healthactchq.com/survey/chq) Program level Percent of population who report often feeling lonely Population level (SIC) Percent of children having been bullied Population level (SIC) Percent of children who self-report a sense of belonging at school and peer acceptance Population level (SIC) Home to Safety (Pathway 1)
Increase in child regulation (). Home Visiting (e.g. Nurse Family Partnership, Miller Early Childhood Sustained home visiting) Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up Triple P – Level 4 See page 14 How do we measure the impact? Impact pathway link Factor Measurement tool Type of indicator Childhood trauma Experience of trauma Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Brief version) () Program level Toxic stress Anxiety Anxiety subscale of the shortened Profile of Moods Scale () Program level Suicide Suicide rate (per 100,000 population by age) Population level (SIC) Parental risky behaviours Percent of parents engaging in risky and high-risk drinking patterns Population level (SIC) Smoking behaviours Daily cigarette consumption (self-reported) Program level Youth risky behaviours Proportion of young people aged 12-24 years who had used an illicit drug within the last 12 months Population level (SIC) Impaired relationship Parent confidence Levels of confidence parents have in their parenting skills Program level (SIC) Maternal Emotional Style Maternal Emotional Styles Questionnaire (MESQ) 14 item scale () Program level Quality of relationship Percent of children and young people reporting the presence of relationships that facilitate disclosure of safety and wellbeing concerns Population level (SIC)
Safety to Education & Skills What is the evidence? Impact pathway link Evidence Evidence Rating Children living in households where domestic and family violence is occurring are likely to come into contact with child protection services. There is considerable evidence that domestic violence and child abuse () Children who have had contact with child protection services are less likely to be school ready compared to other children. In NSW, the proportion of children who are developmentally vulnerable on multiple AEDC domains is positively related to the rate of children reported at RoSH (). Children reported at RoSH are more likely to experience other factors associated with poorer educational outcomes, including problems with the home environment and a lack of school preparedness (). Being school ready predicts future academic achievement. Children who make a successful transition to school have higher levels of social competence and academic achievement compared to those who have a less successful transition (). What interventions impact these factors? Impact pathway link Effective intervention Outcomes Evidence
How do we measure the impact? Impact pathway link Factor Measurement tool Type of indicator Supportive community connections Community connections Percent of population who feel they belong to their community/neighbourhood Population level (SIC) Percent of people attending events such as fetes, shows, festivals or other community events Population level (SIC) Attendance rates at cultural venues and events in NSW Population level (SIC) Percent of people in NSW who report they engage in social activities with family and friends Population level (SIC) Support in crisis Number of people aged 18 years and over who are able to get support in time of crisis from persons outside the home Program level (SIC) Mental and physical wellbeing Mental health Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) Program level Kessler 10 scale Program level
role as their child’s first teacher. numeracy. Suitable for Aboriginal children and families (). Bridging education and employment opportunities Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) The program provides individualised student support and assistance to Indigenous high school students by identifying career pathways linked to individual aptitudes and interests Increased Year 10, Year 12 completion rates Increased University admission rates Increased self-esteem, sense of belonging and career aspirations (). How do we measure the impact? Impact pathway link Factor Measurement tool Type of indicator Empowerment Parent confidence Levels of confidence parents have in their parenting skills Program level (SIC) Employment Proportion of children (under 15 years) living in jobless families Population level (SIC) Promotion of literacy development Proportion of children read to by a parent on a regular basis (0- 8 years) ‘ Number of days last week parent(s) read from a book or told a story Program level Engagement with education Preschool attendance Percent of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children aged 3 and 4 years attending preschool Population level (SIC) School attendance School attendance rates for Indigenous and students Population level (SIC)
Table 4: Example program logic PROBLEM EVIDENCE PROGRAM MECHANISMS OF CHANGE OUTPUTS AND CLIENT OUTCOMES GOAL There are increasing numbers of children who are coming into contact with FACS at risk of significant harm. Analysis of data has found that a common issue underlying these reports is child neglect. Poor relationships and attachment are considered to be a critical risk factor for child abuse and neglect. The parents’ ability to respond appropriately and promptly to the signals of the infant is an important condition for the development of attachment. A parenting program which focuses on improving parental emotional awareness, responsivity, and skills. By addressing these factors, the program will improve the parent child relationship, and the attachment between child and parent. This in turn will increase the responsivity of the parent to the child’s needs, reducing child neglect. Immediate outputs and implementation outcomes Immediate outcomes Intermediate outcomes Long term outcomes Improved safety for children and young people Numbers of parenting programs conducted Number of parents attending Client satisfaction with program Improved parental confidence and Improved parental skills Improved parent-child relationship Reduced child abuse and neglect Reduction in numbers of children at risk of significant harm.