The First Steps Program: a case study of a new model of community child health service
Margaret I. Barnes A D , Jan Pratt B , Kathleen Finlayson C , Barbara Pitt B and Cheryl Knight BA University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia.
B Children’s Health Services, 184 St Paul’s Terrace, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia. Emails: jan_pratt@health.qld.gov.au; cheryl_knight@health.qld.gov.au; barbara_pitt@health.qld.gov.au
C Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia. Email: k.finlayson@qut.edu.au
D Corresponding author. Email: mbarnes@usc.edu.au
Australian Health Review 34(4) 386-389 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH09762
Submitted: 22 March 2009 Accepted: 15 February 2010 Published: 25 November 2010
Abstract
Community Child Health Nursing Services provide support for new mothers; however, the focus has often been on individual consultations, complemented by a series of group sessions soon after birth. We describe a new model of community care for first-time mothers that centres on group sessions throughout the whole contact period. The model was developed by practicing child health nurses for a large health service district in south-east Queensland, which offers a comprehensive community child health service. Issues identified by clinicians working within existing services, feedback from clients and the need for more resource-efficient methods of service provision underpinned the development of the model. The pilot program was implemented in two community child health centres in Brisbane. An early individual consultation to engage the family with the service was added in response to feedback from clinicians and clients. The modified model has since been implemented service-wide as the ‘First Steps Program’. The introduction of this model has ensured that the service has been able to retain a comprehensive service for first-time parents from a universal population, while responding to the challenges of population growth and the increasing number of complex clients placing demands on resources.
Additional keywords: child health, first-time mothers, information needs, nursing, social support.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by a Queensland University of Technology Early Career Researcher Grant and Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation grant.
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