Understanding the effectiveness of partnership-based early childhood interventions
Margaret Kelaher A C , Judith Gray B and David Dunt AA Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Uniting Care, 413–419 Camp Road, Broadmeadows, Vic. 3047, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: mkelaher@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 15(3) 218-224 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY08070
Published: 9 September 2009
Abstract
In this paper, we seek to understand the relationship between partnership effectiveness and preschool enrolment in Best Start, an early childhood intervention for children living in disadvantaged areas in Victoria, an Australian State. We will examine the application of theories of partnership effectiveness at a whole of intervention level and in the context of local evaluation initiatives at the Broadmeadows Early Years Partnership. For the statewide intervention, partnership effectiveness was measured using the VicHealth Partnership Analysis Tool at 11 Best Start Sites. The dependent variable was preschool enrolment in Best Start local government area. For the Broadmeadows Early Years Partnership case study, partnership is conceptualised in terms of the Lasker and Weiss (2003) model of collaborative decision making. Scores rose significantly between the two applications of the VicHealth Partnership Analysis Tool at the beginning and end of the Best Start funding period on almost all of the dimensions of the VicHealth Tool. Support for ‘making partnerships work’, ‘minimising barriers to partnerships’ and the ‘total’ partnership scores were associated with increased preschool enrolments. The results of the case study supported the model for collaborative decision making with particular emphasis on the role of shared leadership, synergy and bridging social ties as crucial processes in improving service integration. The results of the statewide intervention and the case study both provide evidence of the value of partnership approaches in improving service uptake and integration for children living in disadvantaged areas. The study also supports current conceptualisations of partnership value and effectiveness.
Additional keywords: child health, health services, preschool.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Best Start projects and the Hume Early Years Partnership for their assistance and advice in the development of methods for the evaluation and the collection of the data. Their enthusiasm and support is truly valued. Indeed the research could not have been produced without their inputs. We also thank Andrea Nolan, Bridie Raban, Peter Feldman, Cheryl Semple, Theonie Tacticos and Manjula Waniganayake for their contributions as part of the evaluation team. Thanks to Lyle Gurrin for his statistical advice. The statewide evaluation was commissioned by the Victorian Government’s Department of Human Services and the Department of Education and Training with support from the Community Support Fund. Margaret Kelaher was supported in part by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development award and VicHealth.
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