Home Visiting Direct

Early Childhood Home Visiting

Australian Reports

• Review of the Early Intervention Parenting Program and Good Beginnings Prototypes Report
• Parenting Australia, Jesuit Social Services: Solemates
• Northern Lakes Home Visiting Evaluation Report
• FACS Parenting Information Project

Review of the Early Intervention Parenting Program and Good Beginnings Prototypes Report

The Early Intervention Parenting (EIP) program and Good Beginnings Prototypes (GBP) were reviewed in 2003 to determine if the focus continues to be relevant to and consistent with future policy direction and program priorities. The review identified that EIP and Good Beginnings projects are broadly consistent with research on good practice.

The projects are using responsive approaches to their target groups that work from parents' strengths. Most projects use holistic and multi-faceted approaches. Where a single focus intervention is used parents are, in the main, linked with other services. Projects demonstrate the use of a mix of individual support, skills education and community development approaches

http://www.facs.gov.au/goodbeginnings/_lib/pdf/EIPGPB_Vol01.pdf
http://www.facs.gov.au/goodbeginnings/_lib/pdf/EIPGPB_Vol02.pdf
http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/vIA/eipp/$File/eipp_factsheet.pdf

Parenting Australia, Jesuit Social Services: Solemates

Solemates was a successful innovative early intervention program for young, isolated sole parents with babies and/or young children. The program matched these families with carefully selected and trained volunteers, who then provided intensive support and friendship through regular home visits and informal outings. Male volunteers were matched with male parents and female volunteers with female parents.

The Solemates program targeted sole parents who were socially isolated and at-risk, in that they were struggling to parent alone, and had limited local friendship or family networks, minimal knowledge of or engagement in local community activities, networks and services, and a lack of transport or support to get out into the community. Their at-risk status also often arose or was compounded by an insecure housing situation, unstable personal relationships and emotional health, dysfunctional or abusive family relationships, being very young and/or vulnerable or lacking experience, knowledge or support around parenting.

http://www.jss.org.au/programmes/pdfs/final_report.pdf

Northern Lakes Home Visiting Evaluation Report

A pilot project by UnitingCare Burnside, evaluated by the University of Newcastle

This summary outlines the origins, implementation and results of a three year external evaluation of the Northern Lakes Home Visiting service pilot in the Northern Wyong Shire of New South Wales.

http://www.familiesfirst.nsw.gov.au/uploads/fe25820c-9733-4124-b207-04790f10070e8.pdf

FACS Parenting Information Project

This project evaluated parenting information and parenting information needs.

http://www.facs.gov.au/publications/family/early_childhood/pip/default.htm