Strengths-based, tiered, accessible resources and supports (STARS) for Kids Program
Project Details
STATUS
START
END
Categories
Clinical Themes
Platforms
Strengths-based, tiered, accessible resources and supports (STARS) for Kids Program
The STARS for kids program aims to identify, link, and navigate families to the right services at the right place and time. This program will be co-designed with consumers and the community and developed by our team. This program consists of Universal Service via a ‘digital front door’ using the Watch Me Grow-Electronic (WMG-E) Platform, an innovative technology that provides unique opportunities to reach vulnerable families in their homes (critical during the pandemic when clinics were closed), or via opportunistic service contacts (such as GP clinic waiting rooms during vaccination or routine health contacts), early childhood education services such as supported play groups, or via multicultural, refugee or Aboriginal services etc. and enable an integrated approach to identify and then support the child’s developmental, parental mental health, and wellbeing needs. WMG-E has been tested for child development and we propose to expand this to screen and address parents’ mental health and psychosocial needs – optimising the family’s wellbeing. Further, the program will provide tiered service based on individual needs, ranging from anticipatory guidance and health literacy (Tier 1); b) targeted services as per need and risk level (Tier 2); c) specialised supports (Tier 3) including family life skills and complex psychosocial supports via service navigation at Integrated, place-based Child and Family Hubs.
Project outcomes
We are currently running co-design interviews/workshops and focus group among service providers in SWS and Western Australia sites. Given a substantial proportion of Aboriginal families in the Taree site, we are currently engaged with community leaders and drafting the Aboriginal ethics application.
Policy impact
Our team was commissioned by NSW Health to conduct a systematic review of evidence on the use of screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the findings suggested the need for focussing also on strengths and assets(1). In this regard, the provision of a strengths-based tiered model of care alongside wrap around social care for those families with complex psychosocial needs being trialled in three distinct communities across Australia (multicultural in Fairfield, South-Western Sydney; regional/rural and Aboriginal in Taree, NSW and a low socioeconomic community in Wanneroo in WA) will provide further evidence on implementation and allow the scale up of strengths-based program across Australia.
- Cibralic S., Alam M., Mendoza Diaz A., Woolfenden S., Katz I., Tzioumi D., Murphy E., Deering A., McNamara L., Raman S., Eapen V. (2022). Utility of screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in children and young people attending clinical and healthcare settings: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2022;12: e060395. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060395. August 2022.
Project team
MRFF team – Prof Valsamma Eapen, Assoc Prof Susan Woolfenden, Prof Desiree Silva, Dr Amy Finlay-Jones, Prof Virginia Schmied, Assoc Prof Ann Dadich, Prof Raghu Lingam, Assoc Prof Jane Kohlhoff, Dr Daniel Lin, Prof Ilan Katz, Assoc Prof Kenny Lawson, Prof Andrew Page, Assoc Prof Jenny Downs, Assoc Prof Shanti Raman, Dr Adam Walker, Ms Penny Dakin, Ms Ainslie Cahill AM, Assoc Prof Rebekah Grace, Dr Grainne O’Loughlin, Assoc Prof Paul Chay, Prof Susan Prescott, Dr James John, Ms Sharlene Vlahos, Ms Wendy Geddes, Ms Sara Cibralic, Ms Clare Brennan, Ms Bree Katsamangos, and Dr Rebecca Goodhue.
ARC Linkage investigators
Assoc Prof Susan Woolfenden, Assoc Prof Jane Kohlhoff, Prof Kerrie Doyle, Prof Lynn Kemp, Prof Valsamma Eapen, Prof Sharon Goldfeld, Assoc Prof Ann Dadich, Prof Virginia Schmied, Ms Penny Dakin, Ms Bree Katsamangos, Mrs Clare Brennan, Dr Rebecca Goodhue, and Ms Grainne O’Loughlin.