Well Child - Review of the Well Child Framework

Background

Review of the Well Child Framework

Resources

Questions and Answers

Well Child
Review of the Well Child Framework

Government has requested the Ministry of Health undertake a review of the Well Child Framework. This reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to child health and the need to ensure that Well Child Services effectively meet the needs of children and their families. The review also responds to Government’s request that the final Well Child event becomes more focused on ensuring that children are adequately prepared for school entry.

The purpose of the review is to evaluate the implementation of the Framework, to consider future directions and to improve linkages with primary health care and other related services, and the Primary Health Care Strategy.

The objectives of the review are:

to clarify current child health issues and outcomes in New Zealand
to consider national/international evidence on current child health trends and effective interventions to inform the review
to evaluate the current Framework against the above including;
- whether the Framework is reaching high need children and families/whanau
- whether there has been any improvement in outcomes
to develop a framework for a ‘transition to school’ check
to recommend adjustments/changes to the Well Child Framework to enhance performance within existing funding including;
- the appropriate number of Well Child contacts
- the appropriate content of Well Child provision
- the identification of families at higher need of additional support
to improve linkages to related services including
- Primary Health Organisations and the new primary care environment
- maternity services
- interagency Early Intervention work being undertaken by the Ministries of Social Development and Education
to recommend priorities for any additional funding
to plan for implementation of the review recommendations.

Transition to School Check

This is a new assessment and will be part of the Well Child Framework Review.

Planning for the ‘Transition to school’ check will include a survey of the current New Entrant check, a literature review of evidence of effectiveness of various aspects of the check and looking at what other countries are doing. Consultation with the Ministries of Education and Social Development will also be included to clarify their priorities for a ‘Transition to school’ check.

The Transition to school check is likely to include aspects of health, development, education, social, personal and environmental issues.

The proposed outcomes for the ‘Transition to school’ check are;

For the child – the ability to access the school curriculum, enhanced resilience and confidence, any disabilities identified and managed, and abilities enhanced.
For the family – easier access to available resources, healthy parent child relationships and enhanced relationships with professionals.
For Professionals - an enhanced relationship with parents, greater awareness of the child’s needs and increased support to deliver quality care.
For the school – readiness for the child and awareness of any issues or special circumstances

Page updated: September 2006