Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
EVERY PARENT
A PROPOSAL FOR A POLICY FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTATION
STRATEGIES FOR DELIVERY OF PARENTING PROGRAMS BY CHILD
AND YOUTH HEALTH
Prepared by Pam Linke
for Child and Youth Health
July 2001
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
CONTENTS
Introduction
Preamble

Purpose of the parenting policy framework project

The importance of parenting

Child and Youth Health role

Current context for parenting
Parenting Policy
 Vision
 Policy Objective
 Principles
 Policy Interpretation Framework
 Key Result Areas
 Overview of Recommendations
Strategies and Initiatives
Conclusion
Appendices
 Appendix 1. Stakeholders Consultation
 Appendix 2. CYH Managers' Consultation
 Appendix 3. WA Parent Consultation.
 Appendix 4. National and International Investment in Parenting.
 Appendix 5. Parenting Programs in South Australia.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
INTRODUCTION
This document presents a proposed framework for Child and Youth Health to use for
delivery of parenting programs congruent with government's obligation to support all
parents. The goal of the framework is to make a significant contribution, in
partnership with parents and other relevant agencies, to the development of safer,
more competent and more supportive communities, the promotion of child and youth
health and resilience and the prevention of crime and antisocial behaviour. It is
expected that the strategies recommended will impact on other agencies both
voluntary and within DHS with immediate benefits in offering a source of referral for
parenting programs, and working in partnership, and downstream effects in less need
for service provision.
The document is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying report
"What Works" and does not repeat in any detail the findings in that report. The
recommendations in the document are based on the evidence of efficacy and cost
effectiveness of programs for parents which have been rigorously evaluated and have
produced positive outcomes for children, families and communities in the short and
longer term. It is also based on the contribution of stakeholders about where there are
gaps in services for South Australian parents, and what the role of Child and Youth
Health should be in the delivery of services to parents.
There is a plethora of well-evaluated research about programs for parents and
outcomes for children, and the importance of supporting parents is accepted by most
major western nations, by other states in Australia and by South Australia (see
evidence in What Works). Stakeholders’ consultations also support this. What is
needed is the implementation of the programs that can make a real difference. Child
and Youth Health is in a unique position to extend its major contribution to the health
of South Australian children and families through support to parents by virtue of:
 its long history of working with parents (since 1909)
 its wide community acceptance as a parenting resource
 its wealth of experience and knowledge about parenting
 its Statewide reach and mandate to serve parents across South Australia.
It is noted that the efficacy of many of the programs offered by Child and Youth
Health in the present or in the past is supported by the research in “What Works”. The
research and consultation give a sound basis for extending, further developing,
building onto and evaluating these programs.
I would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the Child and Youth Health
policy planning group, the project reference group, the Child and Youth Health
manager’s forum and the stakeholders consulted.
I would particularly like to thank Julia Cranney and Tina Karanastasis from DHS
Policy and Planning, Karen Lamont from the Department of Education Training and
Employment, Chris Caudle and Ros Islip from Child and Youth Health, Planning and
Development for their support and important contributions to this paper.
Pam Linke
2001
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
PREAMBLE
The purpose of the Parenting Policy Framework Project
This project has been undertaken to review Child and Youth Health services to
parenting in the current context and to recommend future directions.
The importance of parenting
Parenting provides for the development, care and protection of children and young
people in ways that aim to maximise their opportunity to grow up in a safe and stable
environment and reach their full potential.
Parenting involves the relationship and interactions between parents, children and
young people, all of whom are continually developing. It is a demanding and at times
difficult task, which requires not only inner resources of empathy, resilience,
confidence and appropriate skills and knowledge, but also the support of a caring
community. Every parent is different, each with their unique qualities and each
facing different challenges in their parenting. Parenting is not entirely learned, it is
about loving and caring and an expression of people’s individual relationships with
each other.
Some of the basic components of effective parenting are

acceptance of the child as a unique, loved and lovable human being, with
opportunities for the development of secure attachment relationships

a physically and emotionally safe and protective environment

developmental opportunities provided by adequate food, education, health care
a stimulating environment and encouragement of opportunities for play

guidance in the development of behaviours and skills for positive and respectful
interactions with others.
The Child and Youth Health role
The Mission of Child and Youth Health is to work in partnership with individuals,
families, communities and relevant organisations:

to enhance the health status of children and young people in South Australia,
focusing on the promotion of health, and the prevention of ill-health, and

to support those parents and families who are the primary carers of children and
young people.
While support for families in their essential role of parenting children and young
people has always been an important part of the mission of Child and Youth Health,
new research is showing clearly the increasing needs of parents and the value of
supporting them in their role.
Child and Youth Health supports the achievement of DHS Strategic Directions in
relation to parenting and will make a significant further contribution to the promotion
of effective parenting through leadership, policy development and service delivery
across South Australia. In addition, Child and Youth Health will assist in the
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
development of caring communities that provide support to parents, and contribute to
the enhancement of parenting through the development of supportive social policy.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Current context for parenting
Child and Youth Health is an organisation which implements the responsibilities and
commitments of Government to provide services to parents. As a State wide service,
Child and Youth Health makes a major contribution to the health and well being of
children, young people and the community through its services to parents. It does this
both through the services it provides to parents across the State and through its role in
provision of information and leadership related to parenting.
The evidence for re-orienting Child and Youth Health parenting services comes from
many sources including the following.

Demographic changes such as family mobility and different family
structures impact on traditional support and knowledge bases for parents.

Current research highlights importance of parenting and what helps to
ensure positive outcomes for children. (See "What Works")
National and international policy developments focus on the importance of
providing supportive environments for children.






Community expressed concerns about the need for safe and supportive
environments for their children.
Consultation with major stakeholders reinforces the importance of
support for parents in South Australia.
Consultation with parents indicates that parents want safer, more
supportive communities and services which value family relationships.
Overseas studies have shown the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of
providing services to parents.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
CHILD AND YOUTH HEALTH PARENTING POLICY
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
CHILD AND YOUTH HEALTH PARENTING POLICY
VISION
South Australian parents will have services in preparing for parenting to the point
where young people make the transition to interdependence and independence and
that support them to optimise the life opportunities for each child and provide for a
safer and more supportive community.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Policy Framework is to provide clarity about the role,
expectations and values of Child and Youth Health in providing services for parents,
and others who are involved in parenting, in relation to their parenting role. The
Policy Framework demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to promote, improve
and support parents’ role and to strengthen families and provides the basis for all
Child and Youth Health strategies and activities .
PRINCIPLES
Child and Youth Health services to parents and those who care for children and young
people are based on the following principles.
 The best interests of the child and young person are paramount.
 Effective parenting is fundamental to the healthy emotional, physical, cognitive,
social and spiritual development of children and young people.
 Parents have the primary responsibility for bringing up their children and others in
the community make a valuable contribution.
 Children have the need for care and nurture from both parents where this is
possible and in the best interest of the child.
 A positive, ongoing, reciprocal relationship with at least one caring adult is basic
to healthy development.
 The ability to parent is based on each individual’s level of knowledge, confidence,
self worth and own experiences of being parented.
 Diverse family patterns are to be respected within the framework of Children’s
Rights and Australia’s legal obligations, with recognition that there is no one right
way of parenting and rearing children.
 Parenting is enhanced with adequate social and community support.
 Collaborative work between governments, community organisations and the
corporate sector is an effective way to provide services to parents.
 Parents should have access to the best evidence based information available to
support their parenting role.
 In order to respond sensitively and appropriately to parents’ needs, those who
work with parents need to understand their own attitudes, feelings and values in
relation to parenting.
 Effective services to families and children are based in responsive relationships.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
POLICY INTERPRETATION FRAMEWORK
The Child and Youth Parenting Policy should be interpreted within the following
framework.
 The primary emphasis of parenting programs and activities will be on promotion
and support of effective parenting as a foundation for optimal child health and
development.
 Information, skill development and support for parents will be designed to
contribute to the achievement of Child and Youth Health Strategic Directions for
parenting, namely:
- providing the opportunity to build skills, support and network through
individual parent contacts, parenting groups and the provision of parenting
information
- providing additional support and opportunities to learn parenting skills, to
parents with special needs
- identifying additional ways of working, including with other service providers
with parents, to increase their parenting skills and confidence - working in
partnership with the Department of Human Services, including the Aboriginal
Services Division, to further develop services to parents across the state.
 Planning for future parenting services will be guided by an evidence based
planning model which incorporates the following
- identification of health and wellbeing issues including the physical,
behavioural, emotional, political and environmental aspects
- demographic analysis
- prevalence and severity of identified health issues
- community consultation
- assessment of the efficacy of interventions.
 Concentration of effort will be in areas of highest impact such as the early years
and periods of developmental transition, and families with indicated needs based
on principles of equity of access.
 Targeted parenting programs will be offered within the context of a universally
available parenting service.
 Staff who are to be involved in these programs will be given appropriate training
and mentoring.
 Statewide parenting programs and services will be determined corporately by
Executive or a Child and Youth Health parenting working group related to the
National Health Goals (one of the working groups to be formed around the five
for children and young people).
 There will be some regional parenting initiatives based on evidence for a
particular local need and within the overall principles and organisational focus.
 Research in practice programs will be conducted in conjunction with the research
capacity of the Planning and Development Directorate.
 It is recognised that all Child and Youth Health contacts with parents have the
potential to impact positively on parenting skills and relationships and outcomes
for children, so all staff will be appropriately skilled in providing relationshipbased service to parents.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
KEY RESULT AREAS
All services will have continuous quality improvement through staff training and
mentoring. Specialist services for parents will have specially trained and selected
staff and leadership with expertise in parenting and child development. All services
will be based on the best available evidence at the time.
1. Raise awareness across the whole community about the importance of parenting
and the requirements of children for optimal development through information,
community education and media promotion.
2. Provide information and education for all parents through written, face to face and
on-line means.
3. Provide a universal home visiting and assessment service.
4. Provide a targeted home visiting service consistent with models that have proven
effectiveness for infants who are at risk of compromised developmental,
educational and/or social outcomes.
5. Provide group support, education and skill building sessions for new parents.
6. Provide, in partnership with other appropriate agencies, neighbourhood parenting
centres to offer a raft of services to all parents related to need and opportunities
for social capital building.
7. Support a volunteer group "Friends of CYH" in building parenting support in local
communities.
OVERVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The following section introduces in more detail the strategies and initiatives that Child
and Youth Health could use to implement the recommendations from the research.
Clearly if the evidence shows areas where what we are doing could have more benefit
for parents by a shift from current activity to a more effective one, making that shift
will be one of the strategies recommended. For other recommendations there are not
sufficient resources to implement them effectively within the current budget and these
have been identified with suggested resource implications.
There are four broad categories of recommendations:

Maintenance of existing activities.

Further development of existing activities.

Reduction or termination of existing activities.

New initiatives.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
OVERVIEW OF CO-ORDINATED PARENTING SERVICES WITH
UNIVERSAL AND RESPONSIVE SERVICE PROVISION BUILT ON A
BASIS OF WIDE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PARENTING.
(Adapted from National Mental Health Strategy, 2000, model).
This model is based on developing links across DHS services and partnerships with
communities and agencies which serve them.
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www.cyh.com - parenting information for local groups
Parenting SA - PEGS/media
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
The following strategies and initiatives are based on the best evidence available and
together will provide a coordinated and comprehensive service to families across
South Australia with maximum potential to positively influence outcomes for
children. (Where there are no recommendations the implication is that the service
should continue as is).
The Strategies and Initiatives are predicated upon the development of a parenting
leadership team with appropriate expertise and support, to undertake further
development and implementation of the projects.
A team of parent educators from regional staff with an interest in this aspect of
parenting would be involved in delivery of parent education programs (not necessarily
full time) and a team of infant specialists would deliver specialist infant programs,
including home visiting.
Key Result Area 1.
Raise awareness across the whole community about the importance of parenting and
the requirements of children for optimal development through information,
community education and media promotion.
What we do now

Media information - Marketing Section.

Social marketing of parenting information - done by Parenting SA and
Marketing section

Information provision through parenting website, Good Advice magazine ,
books, videos and pamphlets. - KIS Directorate, Publications Section and
Parenting SA

Some groups according to local needs and staff interests and expertise.

Parenting SA offers a valued service in grants for small local groups according
to need.

Hosting and support of NIFTeY - NIFTeY has had and continues to have a
major role in publicising the importance of early environments - P & D and
KIS.
Recommendations
1. Aim:
To raise community awareness and knowledge about important parenting/child
development issues. To provide a link to services for parents needing more support.
1.1 Strategy: Train and make available staff to do regular single session
groups/clinics on parenting issues eg sleep, toilet training. Develop a series of
presentations and session formats which could be used by presenters (could
possibly be marketed interstate).
Delivered by: Infant specialists and Parenting Leadership Team
Cost/time implications These sessions could provide time saving by taking the
place of some individual consultations.
1.2 Strategy: Train and make available staff in a coordinated parent education
program related to evidence of what works protecting children from particular
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
"risk" issues and transition points. In particular, groups for parents of toddlers,
parents undergoing family break-up, parents of children with developmental
delay, parents of young adolescents and young parents.
These staff would also be available for presentations on parenting requested by
local community groups eg preschools, schools, child care centres. Develop a
series of presentations which could be used by presenters (could possibly be
marketed interstate).
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team and Parent Educators.
Cost/time implications: Staff time (could be partly offset against current
groupwork costs plus FTE social work time),
A travel budget for service delivery to country staff would be needed.
A central location for the staff team would be needed.
Developing presentation kits - 6 initially - 2 FTEs x 3 days from the Parenting
Leadership team and building on current presentation resources. (An alternative
staffing spread more widely among staff would have the benefit of upskilling
more staff but would be much more expensive and complex to deliver. Where
possible sessions could be delivered with local regional staff involvement).
Staffing – This program could be most efficiently staffed across the State by 5
FTE multidisciplinary staff located with the Parenting Leadership Team or
seconded part time from local regions.
Train selected staff – 2 days full time plus one half day per term group meeting
and ongoing support from the parenting leadership team.
Service Delivery – Each staff member would be expected to deliver 12 parent
education courses per year covering the major issues identified by research, 3
issues clinics per week, and approximately 2 one off presentations.
Outcome: This program could deliver across SA, up to 400 one off presentations
at the request of local community groups, including training of students and
professionals, 60 parent education courses including transition points and key
issues where intervention has been shown to be effective and 600 issues clinics
(groups) which would reduce staff time dealing with the same issues individually.
It would make a very significant contribution to supporting parents across SA.
1.3 Strategy: To cooperate with ABC TV to develop a new series of parenting
programs similar to PGR which were very popular and still are popular but
dated.
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team, Parenting SA, Marketing
Cost/time implications: Cost and staff consultant time to be negotiated.
1.4 Strategy: To provide community group leaders with training and support.
To develop a parent group leaders training program for community groups
wanting to offer parenting programs, including recipients of Parenting SA grants
if required.
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team.
Cost/time implications: Cost would be in developing a course, and delivering
programs. There is an opportunity for some cost recovery.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Key Result Area 2.
Provide information and education for all parents through written, face to face and online means.
What we do now

Information provision through WWW, Good Advice, books, videos - KIS,
Marketing.

Parent Help-Line - 24 hour advice and information - KIS
Recommendations
2. Aim: To improve parents’ access to information, education and skill building
through the www and parent helpline.
2.1 Strategy: To use Parent Helpline to provide specialist parenting interventions
where needed by providing an additional specialist parenting staff resource for Parent
Helpline for service delivery and staff support.
Delivered by: KIS
Cost/time implications: 0.5 FTE PS02 (could possibly come from Parenting SA
grant).
2.2 Strategy: To provide on-line email responses to parenting queries on the
Website. To provide an additional specialist parenting staff resource for Parent
Helpline to reply to web based questions and develop proforma replies where
possible.
Delivered by: KIS
Cost/time implications: Could be done by the parenting staff resource in (2.1).
Technical cost $3000. Marketing cost $2000.
Key Result Area 3.
Provide a universal home visiting/assessment service to all new parents.
What we do now
Initial enrolment at clinics, some home visits, targeted or indicated by presenting
issues or risk factors
Recommendations
3. Aim: To provide an initial contact with Child and Youth Health for all new parents.
To link parents with services according to assessment of parent and infant needs.
3.1 Strategy: To have a specialist home visiting team home visit all new
parents within 2 weeks after the birth of the baby. Where parents are assessed as
not having special needs to offer them clinic visits if they need to and Getting to
Know Your Baby groups. Where they are assessed as having further needs to
offer ongoing relationship based home visits for support from the same staff
member, as needed up to 2 years (See 4.).
Delivered by: Regional infant specialists.
Cost/time implications:
Training:
Mentoring:
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Service Delivery:
(Cost for a pilot program in one region – to be provided by the Director Nursing,
and P & D)
3.2 Strategy: To provide an initial contact with Child and Youth Health for
prospective parents. To begin relationship building before the birth of the child
according evidence of the effectiveness of this. To work in partnership with maternity
hospitals to have a specialist home visiting team visit prospective parents within 2
months prior to the birth of the baby. The same staff member to follow up with the
post birth home visit (as in 3.1)
Delivered by: Infant specialists.
Cost/time implications: [Child and Youth Health is not funded for antenatal work –
Costing to be provided by the Director Nursing, and P & D]
Training:
Mentoring:
Service Delivery:
Key Result Area 4 .
Provide a targeted home visiting service consistent with models that have proven
effectiveness for infants who are at risk of compromised developmental, educational
and/or social outcomes.
What we do now
Ad hoc targeted home visits related to need and clinical judgement.
Recommendations
4. Aim: To provide a coordinated responsive home visiting service, starting
antenatally, which conforms with models of proven effectiveness for infants who are
at risk of compromised developmental, educational and/or social outcomes
4.1 Strategy: To work in partnership with maternity hospitals to have an infant
specialist home visiting team visit prospective parents within 2 months prior to the
birth of the baby. The same staff member to follow up with the post birth home visit
and to provide ongoing home visits for up to 2 years where needed.
Delivered by: Infant specialists.
Cost/time implications: Costing to be provided by the Director Nursing, and P & D
with considerations as to the possibility of starting antenatally, a social work support
provision and requirements for training in an evaluated model.
Key Result Area 5.
Provide group support, education and skill building sessions for new parents.
What we do now
Provide new parents’ groups based on various models and based on a group leaders'
guide that is now outdated. A new Leader’s Guide has been developed and is
currently being trialed. A book for parents to read to children has been drafted and
will be sponsored by Parenting SA in the first instance. It will used be used in
conjunction with the groups.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Recommendations
5. Aim: To provide new parents with the understanding of important developmental
and relationship needs of babies, and parenting skills as well as the opportunity to
build supportive networks.
5.1 Strategy: To initiate and evaluate relationship based groups for all new parents
modelled on current research into parenting babies. To support parents in relating to
their babies, to each other, and to Child and Youth Health staff. To introduce parents
to the Friends of CYH network.
Delivered by: Infant specialists as above.
Cost/time implications: This is current service of CYH. With an aim to make it
available to all new parents who wish to use it. Initially the project could continue the
present number of courses using the new service delivery model and leader’s guide.
Further costs would be in increasing the number of courses available, producing the
new leader's guide, training staff in using it and developing evaluation. [To be costed
by Director of Nursing and P & D]
Key Result Area 6.
Provide, in partnership with other appropriate agencies, neighbourhood parenting
centres to offer a raft of services to all parents related to need and opportunities for
social capital building.
What we do now

Friends of Child and Youth Health provide local support groups for parents of
young children.

Regional teams provide support for local parent groups.

Parenting SA provides grants for local parent groups.
Recommendations
6.1 Strategy: To provide, in partnership with other organisations, neighbourhood
parenting centres in 15 locations across South Australia to provide a non stigmatised
local focus for all parenting issues and services eg CYH services, play group and
child care, parent education, early literacy etc. These would provide centres of
excellence, opportunities to develop new programs and work in partnership with
universities and the Department of Education, Training and Employment to provide
the best possible outcomes for parents and children. To develop proposals in
conjunction with DETE for Commonwealth Government funding for these centres.
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team and regional staff.
Cost/time implications: Local CYH services could be delivered from the centres. A
leadership position, and multidisciplinary teams for service delivery would need to be
established. Some of this could be achieved by re-location of current staff.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Key Result Area 7
Provide leadership in service provision to South Australian parents.
What we do now

Ad hoc consultancy and presentations for community groups by various
sections of CYH. Feedback on Government policy documents.

Membership of national committees.

Bring national and international experts to South Australia and make their
expertise available to the community generally.

Support for NIFTeY.
Recommendations
7. Aim: To develop a focus of parenting leadership skills in CYH..
7.1 Strategy: To develop a specialist, multidisciplinary, cross-sectorial parenting
leadership team to:
 keep abreast of new developments
 initiate programs
 provide training and support and consultation for Child and Youth Health staff
and community parenting organisations
 provide material for publications both on-line and paper based
 promote Child and Youth Health parenting services
 provide a parenting focus for Child and Youth Health.
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team
Cost/time implications: Need to employ some people with expertise, provide training
and support eg ability to attend and present at conferences, keep up with research etc.
Initially one full-time position, and two half time positions from within the current
establishment of nurses and social workers (if possible) is suggested.
7.2 Strategy : To assist with coordination for community organisations and groups
who provide parent education by convening a regular parenting forum relating to
the Child Health Council to provide opportunities for sharing, cooperative work, new
information and needs assessment.
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team.
Cost/time implications: To be decided
7.3 Strategy: To assist with skill development for community organisations who
provide parent education by offering professional training in parent education to
community agencies and groups. To explore (with TAFE and ITABs) the possibilities
of offering accreditation, either formal or from Child and Youth Health, for parenting
courses and leadership.
Delivered by: Parenting Leadership Team.
Cost/time implications: Some cost recovery could apply.
7.4 Strategy To promote the need for cross government funding for early
parenting initiatives in order to provide for a safer, better educated and healthier
community with cross government cost savings by taking up the requirements to
support parents with the Government Management Team.
Delivered by: CEO and Board.
Cost/time implications: to be decided.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
CONCLUSION
The above recommendations, based on rigorously evaluated programs, can provide a
statewide universal and responsive parenting program which has the potential to
address the needs of all parents and make a real difference to outcomes for children,
their parents and the community. Specific project teams/officers would be required to
develop, fully cost and institute the above recommendations.
It is recommended that the program be led by a Parenting Leadership Team consisting
of about two and a half positions with expertise in parenting, group work, child
development and counselling and at least one position with expertise in infant mental
health.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
APPENDICES
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Appendix1
CYH PARENTING FRAMEWORK - STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION.
Stakeholders
Phil Robinson, Service Director, Division of Mental Health
Sharon Williams, Director, Aboriginal Family Support Services.
Tina Karanastassis, DHS, Senior Policy Officer for Children and Young People.
Nancy MacWaters, Manager Planning and Development, Northern Metro.
Clive Skene, Clinical Director, Southern CAMHS
Jan Shaw, Assistant State Manager, SA State Office, Commonwealth Dept of Family
and Community Services.
Dale West, Chief Executive, Centrecare
Heather Grimmett, Commonwealth Dept of Family and Community Services
Ian Proctor, General Manager, FAYS
Eugenia Tsoulis, Executive Director, Migrant Resource Centre of SA.
All stakeholders were asked the same questions and the following report draws
together their responses to each question.
1. What do you think is the importance of parenting?

Parenting is a fundamental building block for children. It starts before birth with
preparation for the first child.

Developing the tools and nurturing skills that enable people. It is about
emotional as well as physical - need to look at tangibles and intangibles, loving
and caring are just as important.

Parenting weaves the social fabric of our community.

The Stolen Generation means that for many Aboriginal families nurturing skills
haven't been passed down.

Parents need basic communication skills, and to be an active part of the family
unit.

From a multicultural and generic perspective it is laying down a good
foundation for children that will advance health and wellbeing - it encompasses
everything, optimises opportunities in life. With multicultural families filling
the blanks might be different focus on interdependence, continuity of
framework, respect for culture.

Parenting is incredibly important. For intergenerational at risk parents input to
parenting can be a way of breaking cycles for individual families and the
community and the effects of disadvantaged children on others in the
community. Parenting is the building block of society.

We predicate most services on the fact that quality of parenting is the vital
ingredient in the wellbeing of our clients.

Parenting skills are not innate, they need to be learned. Too much else happens
for people to be able to negotiate child rearing without the skills. There is a
strong relationship between parenting and outcomes for children.

Parenting involves very complicated roles, many parents are confused leading to
disintegration into different types of relationships.

Effective parenting could keep children out of child protection services.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework


Parenting is a key issue for the Commonwealth with the Stronger Families and
Communities Strategy. Politically it is a major initiative. Commonwealth
provides opportunities for funding, targeted at community interest, community
driven. Commonwealth is heavily involved in parenting through funding
agencies, rather than direct service.
The parenting style you grow up in is superimposed on what sort of person you
are going to be and how you will parent your children - one of the most
important influences of life.
2. Are resources currently devoted to parenting adequate related to your own
experience and to what is happening in other countries? What are the gaps?

Not adequate. (All respondents)

Not sure what resources there are – no mapped out understanding of all the
resources allocated to parenting and who is doing what.

Not enough is done at the early intervention/prevention end. Should deal with
families most at risk as there will never be enough for all.

The system does not deal well with helping families from very different cultures
to negotiate the system.

Aboriginal Family Services are now looking at developing a program looking at
involving Aboriginal concepts in parenting.

There are not sufficient resources to work with intensively with all parents who
require it. Should be done simultaneously across the State. Australia lacks the
resources of wealthier countries. More resources are needed to mainstream
parenting services now, then in the future could be diverted to other areas.

There has been improvement and greater recognition in the last decade that
parenting is a skill, that people require assistance - everyone who has a child
needs assistance.

If you look hard enough there are resources - not sure there are enough. The
main resource not there is a modelling resource where parents can see effective
parenting in action. There is nowhere parents can go and watch people parent
effectively.

There are not enough resources for parents of adolescents, or culturally and
linguistically diverse families, most are in English.

CYH should collaborate with the multicultural sector in language groups and
more different language information.

It seems there are not systematic programs available to refer people to like there
were in the past when Child and Youth Health ran parenting groups and early
childhood counselling.

Programs must fit individuals and locations - with a flexible approach to
differing needs eg Parenting Centres for the "hard to serve" parents. There is a
need to reach parents that FAYS don't get to.

Qualities of programs should be - flexible, pitched at an understandable level,
holistic (not just behaviour management - include nutrition and physical needs),
proactive, free to the customer, and include a community development approach
eg street centres.

Parent Helpline and the PEGS are helpful for most parents who are looking for
short term guidance and this aspect is pretty well covered, for CAMHS clients
with more problems there are long waiting lists and services fall way below
optimum (no increase in staff numbers since 1983).
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework




It is not cohesive - parenting is in many different State government departments
and the community. There is a need for coordination of services.
Australia puts in significant money but not to the extent of some overseas
countries. There is a lot of ad hoc funding. There is no national agenda around
parenting.
People from refugee camps have no models, the family structure has been
destroyed.
Not adequate because resources still go at the "fix" end - it is more visible and
political. Prevention is not acknowledged in funding. Funding is more likely to
go to homeless kids than strengthening families.
3. Do you think resources currently devoted to parenting are fragmented?

Yes there are lots of areas where we dabble but no follow through or continuity.

There needs to be a more cohesive and coordinated approach - a continuum of
modules of service of which parents can take parts or the whole.

Currently clients have to do different bits all over the place, there is no tie-in.

Yes, there need to be overarching policies and operational policies. Currently it
is piecemeal and knee-jerk, needs coordination.

Resources are mostly in two buckets CYH and WCH. (Not aware where all the
pockets of money are).

Yes, there is insufficient coordination, we don’t work as closely as we could.

Finally it is getting better in some areas and there are some good demonstration
programs eg North West Family Integration Program - parents can move
between programs and there are less gaps.

Yes – don’t know what is available for new groups eg Arabic, Bosnian, Persia.
Parenting SA small grants are excellent in helping these groups. There is no one
to train group leaders – could be done in English in partnership with the group.

Yes, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. We need to be aware of what
resources are around. A broad range of services is desirable, not every program
suits every parent.

Programs run in the community allow for networking within that community.

Would like to refer to parenting groups.

Everyone does their own thing - this gives choice, different families need
different approaches, but needs better assessment process and keeping track.
Need to look at things more holistically, we may find we have more than we
think.

What is important is partnership.

There needs to be consistency across the State in terms of philosophy. There
needs to be a series of principles that all adhere to, an underpinning value base.

Funding should be brought under one or two umbrellas or be sure that all adhere
to a set of guidelines and principles with local responsiveness.

It must be confusing to families with no idea what is available.

Community services are generally fragmented within and between services due
partly to rigid guidelines for the use of funding.

There are buckets of money that go to different organisations. If there is
someone to pull them together for parents that is OK, if parents have to do it for
themselves it is very difficult. Not sure how parents can access parenting
services if they don't know where they are or use CYH.
23
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
4. What is most important to be done for parents?

Access to assistance when needed.

Need to build community literacy about parenting.

Services should be holistic - food shelter, non-judgmental support - so people
don't feel they have done things wrong.

The context is relationships - how you do it. Relationships take time, there is a
tension between this and outcomes in the short term.

Train key people from different ethnic groups to visit the households of women
in trouble. The general community needs to understand first, then spread
information and support to women in need.

There needs to be evaluation of outcomes.

Preparation for parenthood, we neglect this at our children's peril. Needs to be
practical, hands-on, this is what to expect. Men know practically nothing about
child development and women don't know much.

The dilemma is about giving high quality service to a small number when many
others are in need. Government needs to understand that services to parents
cannot be cheap or short.

Empower them to make decisions. Some parents don't nurture because they are
afraid it will be wrong.

Increase overall community knowledge in other ways to discipline.

Multifaceted, build confidence and support networks.

Demystify the motherhood myth - everyone needs help and should feel OK to
seek help.

To take equal responsibility, not do things for parents. Listen to what parents
say they need and develop services according to what they need and what is
possible. Eg Parents say they want one stop shops.

Improve community literacy and awareness about parenting, then skill building
according to need.

Look at equity and equality of outcomes.

Appropriate responses to where they are at eg different info and support for
different age groups and different needs. Needs a continuum of service which is
not there because the preventive end is not there.

People don't always know what they need. There is a need to raise community
understanding about parenting.

Listen to parents' concerns, respect different parenting styles, don't impose any
one model as the only way, offer choices but let people (especially refugees)
know there are legal responsibilities in Australia, everyone does not know what
they are. Respect different cultural behaviour in relation to parenting. Start
where the parent is at.

We would hope to achieve an increase in awareness of the importance of
parenting to the future of children but it relates to life circumstances as well and
people need sufficient stability to make it a reality.
5. What expertise do you think is needed? Generic or specialist?

Both - all respondents.

Universal and targeted - reflect the diversity of the community dealing with
parents - staff ethnically as well. Workforce should reflect community diversity.
24
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework















Everyone needs some training but we also need special skills for up to date best
practice. Things change so a broad background person can't make the decision
about where to lead from new developments, a little knowledge can be
dangerous.
Mentoring is important.
Need both mainstream and ethnospecific targeted services through organisations
most in touch because many people won’t come to generic services.
Sensitivity of the professional is really important. People have different skills
and those working with parents should be skilled and empathic. Use staff who
are really keen to work with parents.
Aboriginal families need a blend generic information and skills and specialised
skills unique to Aboriginal cultures (same for NESB). Expertise that allows
parents to move on but maintain cultural identity and cultural practices
including the nuances of different clan groups.
It needs to be multidisciplinary - a range of disciplines have a contribution eg
nursing, social work, psychology and medical for a holistic service.
All need competency - train the trainer may not work.
Needs quality assurance process and underlying values. Make sure objectives
are met.
A fundamental principle is the selection of the right staff for different groups
and related to where people are at.
Need highly trained staff and mentoring with ancillary support.
Select sensitive staff and train for sensitivity.
Room for specialist focus - different skills as a parent are needed at different
ages. Family size also important - more relationships to negotiate. Specialist
skills should go with interest and enthusiasm for working with families.
Basic community knowledge about parenting through to highly specialised
programs.
The first stop shop is non threatening, add special programs where needed.
Some generic information eg PEGS, and 1000 things that need extra specialist
attention.
6. Are there any particular groups, age groups, transition points that you think
could benefit from better/more adequate/better coordinated parenting
services?

Transition points such as birth have particular risk.

Intervention should be targeted to high risk groups eg single mothers, low SES,
family break-up. (With limited resources can we provide a service to the whole
community as well?)

Ante natal is essential, birth, kindy, school, high school, family break-up,
indigenous (service development type initiatives).

Prenatal, postnatal is critical, plus transition to school, 0-3 years prevention,
transition for women to parenting.

Baby  toddler  home to kindy  kindy to school  primary to high school
 young people.

Right through the continuum from birth to old age.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework






Early years, seeding years where you plant the seeds of development, but all the
way through a child's journey you impart different things - without this you
deprive the child and community.
Parents who haven't the benefit of knowing their own parents have more needs.
When children grow up without the tools of parenting they don't know what
they haven't got and can't pass on what they don't know eg how to develop pride
in your home if you have never had a home. Victims become perpetrators, it
happens in many areas.
Adolescents, 9-13, need intensive work when family conflict begins.
Not much for middle years and teens.
Adolescence, transition from toddler to school, middle years, transition from
adolescent to young adult. Address access and equity barriers. Assist with life
challenges.
The difficult transition to independence in adolescence. Parental understanding
is most important.
7. How do you think a balance can be achieved to attain complementary rather
than duplication of services?

It's about a matrix of services, acknowledging what is provided in other places
and areas, and documenting and sharing. Providers don't always know what else
is being done or what is available. Disseminate information so people can
access it.

Services need to be accessible therefore information about where they are is
important.

If all agencies could work together and not have to compete. Don't worry too
much about duplication, there is enough demand for all. The gaps are more
important. No-one is overserviced. Sustainability is important.

We can't afford the luxury of duplication nor the fact that parents can only find
one kind of service. We don't all need to do everything eg CYH might do new
baby work and other agencies eg DETE pick up later age groups.

Need a map of who does what to see where funding comes from and how to
work together in some way.

Need money under CYH umbrella.

Need State DHS levels for quality assurance.

May be accreditation, register of accredited courses, data base of accredited
parenting interventions on the web. Only support accredited, evidence based
services. There must be a rationale.

There is a policy coordination issue, clear sense of who is providing what and
where is needed. A process to identify what is there, look at duplication and
look at more planned approach to allocate resources. Needs overall State policy.

Need strong community awareness of what is available, offer to complement
what is happening, network and support community agencies.

Coordination could be centralised within one agency but preferable a strong
interagency group to work towards a common goal.

Services talking together and networking. Govt agencies need to network as
well as community.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
8. Would it be helpful for an agency or agencies to provide leadership and/or
coordination?

Yes - all respondents with different ideas about how this could work.

There definitely needs to be an organisation that is a signpost - not necessarily
provide all services but provide directions. It's about a hub that can direct people
to where they can get the best service, and often an introduction as well. Maybe
make the 1st call, help open the door. (Aboriginal people would use PHL it there
were Aboriginal staff).

This is a critical component. The question is which agency. As well as
leadership there needs to be partnership - equal partnerships.

Maybe a coalition of agencies with each agency having its own area of expertise
(difficult question).

Yes, CAMHS provides leadership, seen as mental health specialists. Parenting
is not seen as mental health in the early years. Part of the dilemma is not to just
accept the parenting issue presented but look at parenting practices as a way to
safely intervene.

Agencies must work together, and need an appropriate forum - Commonwealth
has a linking role.

Yes, but competition for funding has taken away cooperation that needs to be
there - joint project management does not work. Openness is not there any
more.

Yes, if networking is to work, someone must take the leadership.
9. Do you see Child and Youth Health as a suitable agency to take a leadership
role, in what way?

Services such as CYH and WCH would appear to be appropriate agencies to be
leading as it is part of their core business.

Yes, CYH have the volume to be able to deal with a number of fronts and a
range of issues across the broad spectrum.

Children’s Interests Bureau could formulate the DHS driver and designate CYH
to lead a forum or committee, linking back to the Children’s Interests Bureau.
Draw together agencies for coordination.

A very important role is developing policy and working with other agencies for
implementation and accountability – not service delivery – a co-ordination and
training approach.

Potentially, there is a lot of work to do. Focus on partnership - with a diversified
workforce universal approaches do not work, it need and internal cultural shift.
Need people as part of CYH to guide and support the process with special
multicultural and Aboriginal parenting units within CYH.

Yes CYH should take a leadership role, could take more instead of being locked
into day to day. There is an opportunity to do things differently. Provide
knowledge, broader approach, more coordination in cooperation with other
agencies.

Yes CYH should have a leadership role around parenting. Should do more for
early intervention. Could work in partnership with CAMHS for programs for
parents of adolescents.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework




Yes, target group is young children and CYH is very well places for the early
years. There are clear gaps - organisations have expertise and non-expertise.
Level of support varies significantly from one region to another. CYH and
DETE could do a lot more together.
In a broad sense CYH has a name that gives expectation that there is expertise
that may not be found elsewhere and an opportunity to push for expertise in
particular areas. CYH can be expected not to push a particular barrow except
what is best for children.
NIFTeY being associated with CYH is an example of leadership.
Yes, but does not cover all ways of gaining information. People don't go to
CYH when children are older. Perhaps CYH could have a bigger parenting
focus than just weigh and measure babies. MBHA weighing is still in people's
minds.
10. How do you see your agency linking to Child and Youth Health in services to
parents?

CYH and CAMHS are complementary. If CYH had early childhood programs
like they used to many cases could be referred. There are opportunities for
CAMHS and CYH to collaborate in training and support. The nexus for
CAMHS is in the kind of problem ie diagnosis, not age of child.

CYH and CAMHS have mutual partnerships, especially with Second Story.
Need to cultivate the connection between agencies and opportunities for staff
development also sharing of educational opportunities.

For Aboriginal clients real bridges are important to assist clients to use each
other's services. It is about how we best holistically provide a service eg Pt
Augusta Aboriginal parenting program.

DHS has an overarching policy which defines the DHS position but looks at
how units can work in a more integrated fashion. CYH should contribute to the
policy and be part of it.

CYH should translate the DHS overarching position into clear policies.

Partnerships about developing family policy incorporating parenting.

FACS has a stronger focus on families and communities and can fund parenting
requests.

It would be useful next year to do a mapping exercise with CYH and Migrant
services to look at services and gaps and where links could best be made.
11. Any other points?

The Aboriginal community is in crisis on a number of fronts with major
difficulties. Service delivery should look at community needs, take the focus
from provider to client, and let clients have real input into the services they
receive. In an attempt to deal with quantity we have lost quality. We have lost
the art of listening.

Lyell McEwen hospital will have the first group of postnatal home visits from
Feb next year. New ways of thinking could start with this.
28
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework




How we get to the table with other State Government departments is a crucial
challenge.
Importance of multicultural needs - there are huge gaps and the majority of
people don't understand different cultural needs. Diversity Directions provide
information but more for services than parents.
Programs must have the right person with the right information for the right
family.
An informal presence in preschools eg one day a month would make it easy for
parents to ask for help when they need it.
29
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Appendix 2.
CONSULTATION WITH CHILD AND YOUTH HEALTH MANAGERS
This consultation was a response to the information in the Report “What
Works” and the implications of the recommendations in the report for Child and
Youth Health . The following is a summary of feedback from the consultation.
Major implications
Need for CYH staff with the skills and the commitment to continue long term any
program that is commenced.
CYH needs to be more flexible and responsive in our approach as to how we deliver
services.
Consistency of information / service is important.
CYH need sto develop high standards across the organisation
Evaluation should be tied in to the basket of 4 or 5 programs.
Long term planning is needed for good evaluation.
Programs should be standardised but must allow for documented variation and
professional judgement.
Some staff may be concerned that responding to the evidence may be too prescriptive.
There is a need to become client service focussed and not service focussed.
There may be a perception / image re change from “public health” to “welfare”
mentality (ie risk of being seen as defacto FAYS workers)
Suggested implementation strategies
Community consultation and then be willing to meet the identified needs.
Interagency collaboration.
Validated and rigorous assessment tools need to be used in CYH to lead to
appropriate paths.
Generalist vs Specialist. Take in a specialist approach – staff who want to do it.
Appropriate staff and specialist training
Towards a definition of parenting
Parenting is
 providing a safe environment
 being supportive and challenging
 a unique experience
 parenting requires support

Importance of parenting in early years on a child’s future:
- physical
- social
- emotional
- educational
- moral
- spiritual

There are many contributors to ‘parenting’ especially the link between parents and
caregivers.
30
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
1.




Parenting is complex and incorporates many themes:
values
trust
boundaries
unconditional love and support and uses and teaches these underlying principles to
young people
2. Parenting provides opportunities for shaping future generations and communities.
Gaps in services to parents
 Parenting sessions for Fathers
 Need framework to work with adolescent parents
 Developmental needs (0-25) through life cycles
 Parenting for children with disabilities
 Face to Face groups for parents of 6-12 year olds
 Grandparents who parent
 Ability to provide services 0 – onwards
31
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Appendix 3.
WHAT PARENTS REQUIRE
The following information was taken from a comprehensive consultation with parents
in Western Australia (both country and city areas), Ibrahim, Jenni Developing a plan
for families: listening to the community, WA: Family & Children’s Office, 2000
“It doesn’t matter how you define a family, what matters is good relationships”.
Northam Forum
The following are responses from the consultation that have relevance to Child and
Youth Health. [As WA has a similar demography to SA it can be assumed that these
responses would be relevant to SA].







Ways to strengthen individual families
Value family relationships
Prevent family breakdown
Value the importance of fathers
Preparation for fatherhood
Promote male help-seeking and meet these service needs
Stimulate early childhood learning in the home
Make the most of technology in children’s learning





Ways to strengthen families’ links with community
Create lively supportive communities
Respond to young people’s needs
Safer home environments
Improve community facilities
Make it easier to balance work and family.
Ways to make services more family friendly.
 Family friendly approach
 Provide more information about services
 Improve access to services
 Adopt a cross government approach
 Better planning
 Improved communication
 Provide services locally.







Major issues faced by WA families and children
Work
Safety
Health
Finance
Alcohol & drug abuse
Education
Relationship breakdown
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Summary
Although the questions in the survey were not particularly about parenting and the
responses did not particularly target parenting all of the above issues are relevant to
parenting and to early intervention in support, skill building and confidence building
for parents.
33
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Appendix 4
PARENTING POLICY FRAMEWORKS
A REVIEW OF COMMONWEALTH, STATE GOVERNMENT AND
OVERSEAS INITIATIVES
Prepared by Chris Caudle
For the Child and Youth Health Parenting Framework Project
May 2001
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
34
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
PARENTING POLICY FRAMEWORKS
A REVIEW OF COMMONWEALTH AND STATE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
May 2001
Please note
The parenting programs described below are usually linked to a universal platform of service provision such as Children’s Services and Maternal and Child Health Services
as well as other secondary and tertiary services such as Disability Services and Child Protection.
State
New South
Wales
Victoria
Policy framework
Families First – a Support Network for
Families Raising Children
Aim is to increase effectiveness of early
intervention and prevention services in
helping families to raise healthy, well
adjusted children.
Parenting Skills Development Initiative
Aim is to provide ensure that parenting
practices are informed by quality
research and that this knowledge is
disseminated statewide by systematic
training and education.
This program has recently been reviewed
as part of the Strengthening Families
Evaluation. A final report was expected
in March 2001 but was not available at
the time of writing.
Infrastructure
Implementation is the combined responsibility
of participating agencies in each area (Area
Health Services, Department of Community
Services, Department of Ageing and Disability,
Department of Education and Training,
Department of Housing, NSW Dept Health,
NGO’s funded by government to support
families.
Regional Officers Groups (CEOs, Area
Managers, Department Heads of government
agencies in each area) are supported by the
Office of Children and Young People in process
of implementing Families First.
Implementation is through the Victorian
Parenting Centre which is linked to nine
Regional Parenting Resource Services across
Victoria.
The Victorian Parenting Centre is supported by
the Community Support Fund through the
Department of Human Services, Office of the
Family.
Each Regional Parenting Resource Services is
auspiced by a community health service
provider eg Anglicare
Content focus
Focus is on supporting parents, building sustainable
community support networks and improving family access to
support through a better coordinated service network.
Features include
 universal and targeted services
 home visiting
 volunteers supporting families
Focus is on promotion of positive parenting practices
through the Positive Parenting Program. The program’s
multilevel framework aims to tailor information, advice and
professional support to the needs of individual families.
Level 1 information dissemination about child development.
Level 2 brief time-limited professional consultation with
strategic use of information for parents experiencing specific
difficulties related to their child’s development or behaviour.
Level 3 active skills training
Level 4 broad focussed skills training designed for parents
requiring extensive support.
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Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
State
Policy framework
Infrastructure
Content focus
Western
Australia
Creating Connections 2000-2005.
A five year WA State
Government plan with more than
80 initiatives to benefit families
and build stronger communities.
Focus is on
 improving the health and
stability of families and
children
 strengthening the links
between families,
neighbourhoods and
communities
 increasing access to family
friendly government,
business and community
services (FamilyOne
Business Strategy)
The five year plan affirms the state
government’s commitment to a whole-ofgovernment approach to supporting families
and children and strengthening family life.
The Family and Children’s Policy Office
will play a pivotal role in implementing the
plan. It will act as a facilitator across
government.
The Family and Children’s Policy Office
works with the Family and Children’s
Advisory Council to promote the importance
of families and children with government,
business and community organisations.
Many parenting initiatives are joint projects
of Family and Children’s Services, the
Health Department and the Education
Department.
A range of initiatives are offered to support
parents in their parenting role (see content
focus)
Initiatives developed to support parents in their parenting role in
Western Australia include
 Parenting Line
 Parenting Information Centres ( in metropolitan and country
centres)
 Parenting education campaign
 Parenting information for Aboriginal families
 Parent Link volunteer home visiting service (for parents needing
ongoing support and specific skills development)
 Under tens preventive family support service (for families with
children displaying anti social behaviour)
 Home school support (encourages and supports children to remain
in the school system)
 Building Blocks (a joint initiative of Family and Children’s
Services and the Health Department which builds on and extends
previously developed services aimed at supporting families and
skilling parents eg initial home visit, ongoing home visits for
parents with a low level of need, the Best Beginnings service with
a focus on families with children aged 0-2 and Aboriginal Family
Support service with a focus on families with children aged 0-2.
 Best Start project (a joint project involving Family and Children’s
Services, Health Department, Education Department and local
Aboriginal communities to improve wellbeing of children from
birth to five years).
 Strong Families program for families experiencing difficulties who
have contact with two or more government agencies
36
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
State
Queensland
Federal
Commonwealth
Department of
Family and
Community
Services
Policy framework
Putting Families First
Aims to achieve three outcomes
for all families
 giving children the best
start
 valuing and supporting the
nurturing role of families
 creating safe, supportive
communities for families.
Infrastructure
Implementation is a shared responsibility of state and
local governments, the non-government and business
sectors and local communities.
Identified outcomes and indicators are shared across
portfolios – this creates a common framework for the
implementation process.
Departments use the framework and resources to enable
the implementation of effective strategies at local level.
Regional Manager Forums have responsibility for
developing local initiatives in partnership with families,
the community, non-government and business sectors.
Content focus
Existing services will be further developed to make
them more coordinated and widely available. The
intention is to enable and extend local leadership
There is a government commitment to develop a child
and family support network in every local community
(will vary according to local needs).
A range of possible future investment priorities has
been identified for achievement of the three desired
outcomes of Putting Families First.
Policy framework
Stronger Families and
Communities Strategy.
The Strategy focuses on the
following three areas:
 early childhood and the
needs of families with
young children;
 strengthening marriage and
relationships; and
 balancing work and
families
Infrastructure
The Government will invest an additional $240 million
for nine new initiatives, over the next four years.
Funding is available to states on a per capita basis and is
distributed by local FACS offices through a project
funding scheme.
Content focus
The nine initiatives are
 Creating a Stronger Families Fund
 Early Intervention Parenting and Family
Relationship Support
 Providing more Flexibility and Choice in Child
Care
 Commissioning a landmark national Study of
Australian Children
 Nurturing Potential Leaders in Local Communities
 National Volunteers Skills Development Initiative
 Supporting Local Solutions to Local Problems
 Setting up a Can Do Community Initiative
 Running a Communication Strategy
Further details on each initiative are attached.
37
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Stronger Families and Communities Strategy
Nine new initiatives
Initiative
Creating a Stronger Families Fund
Early Intervention Parenting and Family
Relationship Support
Providing more Flexibility and Choice in Child
Care
Commissioning a landmark national Study of
Australian Children
Nurturing Potential Leaders in Local
Communities
Helping volunteers with a National Volunteers
Skills Development Initiative and funding for
the International Year of the Volunteer
Supporting Local Solutions to Local Problems
Content focus
To encourage communities to find new ways to strengthen families, with a focus on early childhood and effective
parenting - $40 million.
To strengthen families. This will also provide services and activities such as parenting, support and play groups; marriage
and relationship education. It will also provide family counselling with a focus on regional Australia and support for legal,
medical and other professionals in their support for families - $47.3 million.
To improve the flexibility of child care, to better meet the needs of families and provide more choices ($65.4 million).
To focus on early childhood and effective early intervention and prevention strategies in areas of health, education, child
care and family support ($6.1million).
To offer skills and support for potential community leaders who live in socially disadvantaged areas and come from
outside industry and government structures ($37.1 million).
To help people involved in volunteer work build skills and to support International Year of the Volunteer celebrations in
2001 ($15.8 million).
To support communities to build their own capacity in small and cost-effective ways ($15.4 million).
Setting up a Can Do Community Initiative
To showcase Australian best practice with real life examples of how to revitalise communities$5.2 million.
Running a Communication Strategy
To reinforce the significance of good parenting and strong family relationships to our children’s lives, our communities
and Australia’s future ($8 million).
38
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
PARENTING POLICY FRAMEWORKS: GOVERNMENT THINKING AND POLICY REGARDING YOUNG CHILDREN
THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
May 2001
Country
United
Kingdom
Policy framework
Sure Start
A new cross-Government program to
provide support to parents and local
communities, addressing their needs and
making available the support they require to
give their children the best possible start in
life. Objectives include
 improving social and emotional
development
improving health
improving the ability to learn
strengthening families and communities
increasing productivity of operations
A summary of processes and targets for each of
the objectives is attached.




Infrastructure
Sure Start pulls together health, education and
welfare services for 0-3 year olds in a
coordinated way. By 2002, there will be at least
250 Sure Start local programs. They will be
concentrated in neighbourhoods where a high
proportion of children are living in poverty and
where Sure Start can help them to succeed by
pioneering new ways of working to improve
services.
Content focus
The design and content of local Sure Start programs
vary according to local needs, but it is expected that
all programs will include the following core
services
 outreach and home visiting
 support for families and parents
 support for good quality play, learning and
childcare experiences for children
 primary and community health care, including
advice about family health and child health and
development
 support for children and parents with special
needs, including help getting access to
specialised services
39
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
United Kingdom –
Sure Start objectives and targets
Objectives
Improving social and
emotional development
Improving health
Improving the ability to
learn
Strengthening families
and communities
Increasing productivity
of operations
Process
by supporting early bonding between parents and
their children, helping families to function and by
enabling the early identification and support of
children with emotional and behavioural difficulties
by supporting parents in caring for their children to
promote healthy development before and after birth
by encouraging stimulating and enjoyable play,
improving language skills and through early
identification and support of children with learning
difficulties
by enhancing families' opportunities for involvement
in the community and improving the sensitivity of
existing services to local needs
Targets

Parenting support and information for all parents.

A 10 per cent reduction in children re-registered on a child protection register.

All local Sure Start programs to have agreed and implemented, in a culturally sensitive way, ways of
identifying, caring for and supporting mothers with post-natal depression.

A 5 per cent reduction in proportion of low birth-weight babies.

A 10 per cent reduction in children admitted to hospital as an emergency during their first year of life
with gastro-enteritis, a respiratory infection, or a severe injury

At least 90 per cent of children with normal speech and language development at 18 months and 3
years.

100 per cent of children in Sure Start areas to have access to good quality play and early learning
opportunities, helping progress towards early learning goals when they get to school

75 per cent of families report personal evidence of an improvement in the quality of services providing
family support.

All local Sure Start programs to have parent representation on local program boards

At least 250 local programs in England.

100 per cent of families in contact with the local Sure Start program within the first two months after
birth.

Evaluation strategy in place by 2000-01
Post Spending Review 2000 objectives and targets (the new Public Service Agreement)
In return for the extra resources allocated to Sure Start in the Spending Review settlement, Ministers' have agreed new objectives and targets.
Objective
Improving social and
emotional development
Improving Health
Improving children's
ability to learn
Strengthening families
and communities
Targets

reduce the proportion of children aged 0-3 in the 500 Sure Start areas who are re-registered within the space of twelve months on the child protection register by
20 per cent by 2004

achieve by 2004 in the 500 Sure Start areas, a 10 per cent reduction in mothers who smoke in pregnancy

achieve by 2004 for children aged 0-3 in the 500 Sure Start areas, a reduction of five percentage points in the number of children with speech and language
problems requiring specialist intervention by the age of 4

reduce the number of 0-3 year old children in Sure Start areas living in households where no-one is working by 2004
40
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Country
Europe
Policy framework
European Early Promotion Project.
The European Early Promotion Project is
currently being evaluated in a research
context in five European countries.
Infrastructure
The project involves training health visitors or
other primary health care personnel to conduct
promotional interviews with all prospective
parents in their area, approximately four weeks
before and after birth. At the same time, the
health visitors screen for risk factors associated
with child mental health difficulties. Parents
identified as at risk are immediately offered a
series of home visits by the health visitors, who
use the Parent Adviser model to engage and
help families prevent subsequent difficulties.
Content focus
The Parent Adviser model is a system for enabling
non-mental health professionals to support families
effectively. It includes an explicit theoretical
framework, an elaborated training course, a service
delivery system, and evaluative research studies.
The model has been used to train health visitors,
school nurses, early years staff, community doctors,
teachers, and others to work with parents of children
with a variety of difficulties, including chronic
illness and disability and emotional/behavioural
problems.
Canada
(Ontario)
The Early Years Study.
The Ontario Government’s response to-date
includes a number of steps to advance early
child development, including:
 plans to create Demonstration Projects
to test and evaluate different approaches
to helping young children learn
 a commitment to guarantee funding to
all school boards for Junior and Senior
Kindergarten, as recommended in the
Study
 announcement that all existing preschool early learning programs will be
combined and expanded – with
increased funding.
Minister Marland will appoint an Early Years
Task Group who will advise the Government on
elements and standards for an Early Years
Program for Ontario children and parents.
An Early Years Challenge Fund will help
communities promote local early child
development and parenting programs by
investing $30 million annually by 2001-02 to
match private- and voluntary-sector
contributions to local programs.
In response to the Early Years Study, the
Honourable Margaret Marland, Minister
Responsible for Children, announced details of five
Demonstration Projects that will test and evaluate
approaches to good early child development and
parenting in our province.
Practical examples to both community and
government, these projects will show what works
for parents and children across Ontario. They will
also demonstrate how to bring business, voluntary
and charitable organisations together to support
early child development.
The Demonstration Projects selected are in different
parts of the province and represent a range of
community-based leadership models. They are
located in South East Grey, London, North Bay,
Ottawa-Carleton and York Region.
41
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Country
United States
Policy framework
The US National Research Council and the
Institute of Medicine established a
Committee on Integrating the Science of
Early Childhood Development. The
committee’s conclusions and
recommendations are grounded in four
overarching themes.
 all children are born wired for feelings and



Infrastructure
A summary of recommendations for each
theme is attached.
Content focus
ready to learn
early environments matter and nurturing
relationships are essential
society is changing and the needs of young
children are not being addressed
interactions among early childhood science,
policy and practice are problematic and
demand dramatic rethinking.
42
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
United States
The US National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine: Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development
Committee conclusions and recommendations are grounded in four overarching themes summarised in the table below.
Theme
All children are born wired for
feelings and ready to learn
Early environments matter and
nurturing relationships are essential
Society is changing and the needs of
young children are not being
addressed
Interactions among early childhood
science, policy and practice are
problematic and demand dramatic
rethinking.
Recommendations
1. Resources on a par with those focussed on literacy and numeracy should be devoted to translating the knowledge base on young children’s
development into effective strategies for fostering

the development of curiosity, self-direction and persistence in learning situations

the ability to cooperate, demonstrate caring and resolve conflict with peers

the capacity to experience the enhanced motivation associated with feeling competent and loved
2. School readiness initiatives should be judged not only on the basis of their effectiveness in improving the performance of the children they reach,
but also on the extent to which they make progress in reducing the significant disparities that are observed at school entry in the skills of children
with differing backgrounds.
3. Substantial new investments should be made to address the nation’s seriously inadequate capacity for addressing young children’s mental health
needs.
4. Decision makers at all levels of government, as well as leaders from the business community, should ensure that better public an d private policies
provide parents with viable choices about how to allocate responsibility for child care during the early years of their children’s lives. During
infancy, there is a pressing need to strike a better balance between options that support parents to care for their infants at home and those that
provide affordable, quality child care that enables them to work or go to school.
5. Environmental protection, reproductive health services, and early intervention efforts should be substantially expanded to reduce documented risks
that arise from harmful prenatal and early postnatal neurotoxic exposures, as well as from seriously disrupted early relationships due to chronic
mental health problems, substance abuse, and violence in families. The magnitude of these initiatives should be comparable to the attention and
resources that have been dedicated to crime prevention, smoking cessation, and the reduction of teen pregnancy. They will require the
participation of multiple societal sectors and the development of multiple strategies.
6. The major funding sources for child care and early childhood education should set aside a dedicated portion of funds to support initiatives that
jointly improve the qualifications an increase the compensation and benefits routinely provided to children’s nonparental care givers.
7. The President should establish a joint federal-state-local task force charged with reviewing the entire portfolio of public investments in child care
and early education. Its goal should be to develop a blue print for locally responsive systems of early care and education for the coming decade
that will ensure the following priorities

that young children’s needs are met through sustained relationships with qualified caregivers

that the special needs of children with developmental disabilities and chronic health conditions are addressed

that the settings in which children spend their time are safe, stimulating, and compatible with the values and priorities of their families
8. The President’s Council of Economic Advisers and Congress should assess the nation’s tax, wage and income support policies with regard to their
adequacy in ensuring that no child who is supported by a full-time working adult lives in poverty and that no family suffers from deep and
persistent poverty, regardless of employment status. The product of this effort should be a set of policy alternatives that would set the nation
toward achieving these fundamental goals.
43
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Appendix 5
DHS Parenting Programs in South Australia
Taken from: Population Strategies Unit, Strategic Planning and Policy Division, Audit of DHS
programs and services for children and young people: prepared for the Children’s Interests Bureau,
June 20th, 2001.
Organisation
Aboriginal Services
Title
Grandmother program
“
Health Ways
DHS/IDSC
Collaborative with agencies in Northern
Metro region
CAMHS
Kids Plus
Infant Mental Health Prevention
Early years
Southern CAMHS
Counselling Service
2-18
Helen Mayo House
Women’s and Babies Health Service
0-5
CAMHS Northern
Adolescent Services Enfield
12-18
CAMHS Northern, DETE and FAYS
Behavioural intervention service –
statewide
Dept of psychological medicine
Family partnerships
5-18
CAMHS – N and WCH
CAMHS – N
Target Age
0-18
Pregnant women, young girls, infant
students
Children
0-18
0-18
“ – Elizabeth
FAYS
DHS
WCH
Tier 3 Diversionary
0-18
Early years strategy
Parenting Network
0-6
0-3
DHS
Check your child’s drawing
0-5
“
“
“
“ AHSHS Mt Barker
CAMHS Mt Gambier
Finger fun
Hands on fun
Ready set write
Parenting and pregnancy support
Parenting and family support
“
Pre school
Preschool?
0-16
44
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
CYH
DHS Metro Division
DHS Metro Division
Family and Community
Development Program
CYH
DHS Metro Division
Shine SA
Parenting Forum
Whyalla/Challenging
children’s support
group
North West Children
and Families
Integration Project
Supported
Accommodation
Assistance Program
Neighbourhood
Development Program
– various locations
Young mothers
program
Specific FC & DP
services targeting
children
Parent ed, parents and
service providers
Targeted risk
groups
Women in
domestic violence
and their children
Parents with young
children
Teenage parents
(and their babies)
Target children at
risk in city and
country areas –
Parents Talking
Relationships and
Sexual Health
Universal Parenting
Parents of young
people
Play groups association
Child and Youth
Health
Play groups
New Parent Groups
0-5
New parents and
their babies
Child and Youth
Health
Child and Youth
Health
Health consultations
Child and Youth
Health
Parent Education
All parents with
children 0-12
Parents of 0-12
year olds, NNESB,
Aboriginal, young
parents, low socioeconomic
Parents of children
0-12 months
Child and Youth
Health
Parent Helpline
Child and Youth
Health
Child and Youth
Health
Parenting SA
Friends of CYH
All parents of
children and young
people
All parents
Internet Client Services
All parents
Parent Easy Guides
Parenting SA
Small grants
Parenting SA/ACCHS
Talking Realities
All parents + some
for specific groups
eg new arrivals
Specific parent
groups
Young parents
Child and Youth
Health
Adelaide Central
Community Health
Service
Targeted Services
Parenting support and
information
All parents
Parents of 0-25 yr
olds, general and
targeted
Intensive evidence based
parenting support
interventions
Training in specific topics
related to children and
parental bonding
Local parenting skills and
development information
programs
Living skills /support
Counselling, Staines Baby
Development program
(Goodwood),
Parent/Adolescent
Counselling (Pt Pirie, Pt
Lincoln)
Communication,
confidence building
Free and low cost parenting
information, including online
Parent child play groups
Relationship building
groups, information, skills
dev.
Health information/
respond to needs
Various services
Specialist intervention
and/or information in group
setting
Telephone advice and
information service
Mutual support and
information groups
On line parenting and
health information
Parenting information
sheets/hard copy and online
Funding for parenting
education
Skills and confidence
building
Parenting skills, Teen
parent program, Raising
confident children, young
45
Child and Youth Health Parenting Policy Framework
Adelaide Central
Community Health
Service
Family support and
well being
Parents general
Adelaide Central
Community Health
Service
Adelaide Central
Community Health
Service
Speech and language
Parents of children
with language
disorder
Various target
groups
Adelaide Central
Community Health
Service
Adelaide Central
Community Health
Service
Inner Southern
Community Health
Service
Cambodian Playgroup
Vietnamese Child
Parent Program
Aboriginal and Islander
Playgroup
Enuresis program
Services for young
people
Children and
adolescents with
enuresis
Young parents
Parenting support and
information
Mothers
Fathers
Inner Southern
Community Health
Service
Inner Southern
Community Health
Service
Speech and language
0-4
Early child
development
4-5?
Noarlunga Health
Services – Community
Health
Parenting support and
information
0-25
Inner Southern
Community Health
Service
Northern Metro
Community Health
Service
Enuresis training
0-12
Parenting support and
information
General and
targeted
parents support program
(antenatal), Vietnamese
child-parent program
Weekly drop in for parents
and children at local
primary school – support.
Social support for single
parents.
Fathers group
Parent support, skill
development
Reduce isolation,
confidence building, skills
development
Dry bed skills training.
Young parents’ support,
Teen parenting peer
education project
Positive parenting program
Fathers club – skills and
relationship building,
effective parenting
strategies
Language and confidence
building groups
School readiness for
children with
developmental delay –
parent support.
Positive parenting, fathers
support, language and preliteracy group,
developmental play group
Enuresis clinic
Breaking up – information
and support
Young mothers –
confidence building
Positive parenting groups
Family support to
Vietnamese families
Language building
playgroup
Parenting group for parents
of children with
developmental delay
46