Transcript Collie Early Years Network - Department of Communities

Collie Early Years Network
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
African Proverb
Melanie Whitfield
May 2011
Forming the Network
 The Collie Early Years Network was
formed in February of 2008, to bring
together individuals, organisations
and agencies that have an interest
and passion for the early years.
 The network includes parents with
an interest in the Early Years and
representatives from Department of
Education and Training, The Shire of
Collie, Department for
Communities, GP Down South, Child
Health- Community Health Services,
The Smith Family, Collie Family
Centre, The Collie Library, Disability
Services Commission, Local
Playgroups, Collie Child Care and
Early Learning Centre, Jenni’s House
Family Day Care, Early Learning
Areas from each of the 5 local
Primary Schools.
Terms of Reference
1.
Support healthy family
environments and foster positive
parenting skills through giving
consideration to factors
influencing a child’s wellbeing
such as:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Socioeconomic factors
Level of stress and
support experienced by
the family
Level and intensity of a
child’s learning
experiences
Parental mental health
Family functioning
Parenting style.
Terms of Reference
2.
Partnerships are established
within Collie and surrounding
areas, across agencies and within
communities to ensure a cohesive
approach is achieved in providing
services to children and families in
the early years, by:
a)
Promoting awareness of
relevant services for families
at risk.
b)
Promote awareness of
agencies/services to the
community.
Terms of Reference
3.
Promote and advocate developmentally appropriate experiences that enrich
the early years across all domains- social/emotional, cognitive, motor skills,
creative.
a)
The intrinsic worth of early childhood is valued.
b)
Parents and families have inherent strengths.
c)
Communities contribute to and assist families improve the overall wellbeing
of children in the early years.
d)
Quality care and nurturing is fundamental for all children to achieve their
potential.
e)
Working collaboratively offers the best opportunity for achieving optimal
outcomes for children.
f)
The diversity of communities is valued.
Challenges
Funding:
All of our projects are funded individually.
Coordinator works as volunteer (Roughly 15
hrs a week). This has prevented the growth
of the group.
Promotion:
Our community newspaper is poorly utilised by
our demographic. Advertising in Collie Mail is
expensive.
Changes in Staff:
Child Health Nurses and Collie Family Centre Staff
have recently changed. GP’s and Midwives
overworked and therefore unable to support
CEYN by promoting services consistently.
Conflict between community groups
with and early years interest:
Partnerships are at times difficult to
form.
Key Initiatives of the
Collie Early Years Network
The Collie Early Years Directory and Fridge
Magnet.
•
Detailing services, groups and businesses in
the Collie area that catered for or maintained
an interest in the early years of life (0-5).
•
This is a free service. Groups are asked to fill
out a form detailing the services they
provide. This information is included in the
directory FREE of charge.
•
The Directory and Fridge Magnet are issued
to Community Groups, Businesses, and
Services that interact with families of
children aged 0-5 and to parents through the
Parent Information Packs given to new
mothers in hospital, at the Dinner for Dads
and Dads to Be, at CEYN Events.
Sponsored By:
The Kids In Collie Newsletter
• Is issued bi-monthly.
•Announces items of interest,
activities and events for families of
children aged 0-5.
•Issued through Primary Schools,
Child Care Services, Child Health
Services, Doctor’s Surgeries, Collie
Library, Roche Park Recreation Centre
and the PCYC as well as at CEYN
events, in the Parent Information
Packs, at Dinner for Dads and DadsTo-Be etc.
Printed by the Shire of
Collie.
Collie Early Years Calendar
•Contains information with a focus on the early
years of life including: photographs of local
children participating in activities within Collie,
important dates, annual community events,
parenting tips, inspirational quotes for parents,
craft activity ideas, recipes, and information on
relevant services within the Collie community.
•These were launched at the Children’s Week
events and are sold through local newsagents,
child health clinics, the Collie library, schools
and by members of the Network.
•This was a not for profit venture although a
small cost is charged to cover printing.
Information Folders for New
Parents
•Initially compiled to accompany the Meals
on Wheels for New Mums.
•Now given to New Mothers at the Collie
Hospital during their stay.
•If a baby is born outside of Collie the
parents receive them with their meals.
•Includes the CEYN Directory and Fridge
Magnet, The latest edition of the Kids In
Collie Newsletter, A CEYN Calendar, CEYN
Pamphlets, Meals Gift Vouchers, Playgroup
Information, Breast Feeding Information,
General Child Development Information.
Children's Week Celebrations
2009 & 2010
•In 2009 and 2010 the CEYN hosted an event
to celebrate Children’s Week to promote the
Collie Early Years Network and other services,
groups or initiative operating in town for the 05 age group.
•In its first year 100 families attended, this
grew to 150+ last year.
•Groups were invited to host displays,
demonstrations or activities.
•We provided a bouncy castle, Merry-GoRounds, Face Painting, Balloon Twisting, Craft
and Sport activities.
•The feedback from parents and groups
involved were overwhelming positive.
Meals On Wheels For New
Mums
The objectives for the program are:
• Improve psychological well-being and reduce stress
levels.
•Encourage breastfeeding by having additional time
and reduced stress in the first few weeks.
•Benefit breastfeeding as well as the health and well
being of the family.
•Strengthen community spirit.
•Reduce Maternal Isolation
•Provide an opportunity to mentor and support.
The Referral Process
1. When Child Health Nurse makes initial contact with a family when a baby is born
they give the family a Gift Voucher from the CEYN.
2. The client then calls the CEYN to organise a date and time for delivery.
3. The CEYN ask basic questions about food allergies, dietary requirements, hazards
that may be present during delivery etc.
4. CEYN contact Meals on Wheels at Collie Home Support and place order.
5. CEYN Coordinator collects meals from Meals on Wheels Kitchen and delivers them
to clients home at agreed time.
Feedback
“Was great- for a couple of nights we did not have to think about
dinners. Felt like a break/ treat. Gave my husband and I more
time to relax together.”
“Well organized, excellent idea, a meal you don’t have to worry
about when you have a new baby is a fantastic thing. Thank you
to those who made it possible.”
Dinner for Dads and DadsTo-Be
Project Goals
•Raise awareness of the importance of
fathers in their children’s lives.
•Promote healthy positive relationships
between parents to be.
•Foster true partnerships between
parents.
•Acknowledge the emotional stresses,
expectations an impending birth places
on fathers.
•Ease anxiety felt by fathers.
•Build self esteem in fathers.
•Held at a local licensed venue this
provides neutral grounds for open
and frank discussion about the impact
of a new baby on family relationships.
•Places the focus firmly on the
fathers and their expectations and
fears of the upcoming challenges and
joys of child birth and the following
six weeks after labour.
•Fathers can discuss:
oTheir concerns about
fatherhood.
oHow to support their partner
during labour and their role
during the first 6 weeks after
birth.
Feedback
“ Casual and relaxed atmosphere was good and
was the reason I came. Would definitely come
again.”
“Will definitely come along and support this
again... Next time as an ‘experienced’ dad!”
“Great to meet other ‘dad’s to be’. Would be great
to get together once babies are born.”
Collie Early Years Network
PO Box 637, Collie, WA, 6225
Ph: 9734 2298/ 0403 313 517
[email protected]