Well Child - Resources - Newsletter No 3

Background

Review of the Well Child Framework

Resources

Questions and Answers

Well Child
Resources
Newsletter No 3, May 2007

In this newsletter:

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This third newsletter provides an update on the progress of the Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework review, and information on planning and implementation for the pilot of the B4 School check. We have also included reports on community initiatives that some DHBs have developed to support providers and families and to facilitate provision of Well Child Tamariki Ora services.

Well Child Review update
The Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework review is progressing well. The options paper is almost complete and will be circulated to key stakeholders at the beginning of June. There will be a four-week period to provide feedback.

Focus group meetings have been held to obtain advice and test early options with the sector and, to date, there appears to be good general support for the proposed direction of change for the Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework.

Groups that have participated in these meetings include Plunket, Maori providers group, educational representatives, child vision and hearing specialists,child mental health specialists, paediatricians, DHB planning and funding managers, and primary health care providers.

Pilot of the B4 School check
A pilot of the ‘Ready for School’ check (to be known as the B4 School check) is scheduled to run from August to November 2007. It is planned that this will be delivered in two or three DHBs, and will involve about 1000 children. The Ministry is engaging with DHBs during May and June 2007 to consider and select the regions to be involved.

Lessons learnt from the evaluation of the pilot will feed into the planning for phased national implementation of the B4 School check from February 2008.

Information management support
An options analysis of information management to support the B4 School check has been completed and is being considered by the Ministry. Work undertaken as part of the Key Directions for the Information Environment project includes the information environment for Well Child Tamariki Ora services generally.

Workforce development
A competency framework for nurses and other health professionals (eg, vision hearing technicians) involved with the delivery of the B4 School check is being developed. It is likely that a variety of providers will deliver these checks and the concept of a ‘school nurse’,preferably working out of a Primary Health Organisation,is being explored. Good integration between the community child health nurse and other primary healthcare providers is essential.

Updates from the regions

In recognition of the need to move to a needs assessment model for delivery of holistic, multi faceted services, Canterbury DHB has included a Whanau Ora-based service to complement Well Child Tamariki Ora services. The Whanau Ora service is conducive to the DHB’s Maori and Pacific health planning initiatives where family and community wellbeing is a key factor in overall individual wellbeing.
Waikato DHB has launched a webpage in response to identifying a need for both health professionals and families/whanau to have easy access to up-todate, consistent information and to ensure families have a choice of Well Child Tamariki Ora providers.The webpage provides background information about Well Child Tamariki Ora services and providers in the Waikato region. You can access the webpage through the existing health and social service site, webhealth,at: http://waikato.webhealth.co.nz/page/waikato_243.php
South Canterbury DHB contracts from Plunket a postnatal adjustment programme that includes prevention and early intervention for South Canterbury mothers and families. The DHB is also working with Plunket to provide funding and support to increase breastfeeding rates. The DHB has employed a breastfeeding advisor to provide one-to-one support and breastfeeding promotion activities, which are targeted to reduce inequalities and assistrural mothers.

The Ministry of Health is very interested in hearing about local, community Well Child Tamariki Ora-related initiatives from your area and invites you to send us information for inclusion in the next newsletter, or on our website. Email: well_child@moh.govt.nz.