Early Start (New Zealand) Meets HHS Criteria

Model effectiveness research report last updated: 2023

Model overview

Theoretical approach

Early Start aims to create a collaborative, problem-solving partnership between the home visitor and family to maximize child health, increase child and family well-being, build strengths, and eliminate deficiencies. Early Start recognizes that child well-being can occur only through the more general health and well-being of the family, although the target child is treated as the primary focus of services.

Early Start was designed for at-risk families in the general population. However, the developers took steps to make the model relevant to the Māori, an indigenous population of New Zealand. During the development phase, the Early Start team consulted with Māori representatives on the design of the program. The developers established an Early Start board, half of whose members were Māori, to oversee implementation of the program and to foster an organizational culture that was respectful and sensitive to the needs and perspectives of Māori families. The Māori board members provided a Māori cultural training to all Early Start staff and Māori home visitors were hired to work with Māori families. These efforts aimed to create a model that can be delivered to both Māori and non-Māori families in a culturally responsive way.

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Model services

Early Start provides services through home visitation and offers aspects of two established curricula that are incorporated into home visits and tailored to a family’s needs and situation. The two curricula the program uses are:

  1. Tākai Parenting Resource, which focuses on parenting, child and parent interactions, and the importance of relationships
  2. Level 4 Standard Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), which focuses on positive parenting practices and aims to address childhood behavior problems

Families are offered several additional services as needs are identified during the program:

  • Infant and child safety awareness
  • Linkages to supportive services in the community, including budget, health, and relationship services
  • Advice and support concerning healthy lifestyle choices, including family and child nutrition
  • Household and time management

Early Start also offers the full Incredible Years Toddler Parenting Program, a group-based program that is run twice a year for referred Early Start families.

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Intended population

Early Start was designed to serve a general population of at-risk families with newborn children up to age 5. The developers took steps to make the model culturally responsive to the Māori, an indigenous population of New Zealand.

Early Start uses a three-stage eligibility determination process. First, Early Start administers a short risk assessment containing items on maternal age, extent of family support, whether the pregnancy was planned or unplanned, substance abuse, family violence, and child abuse and neglect. Any family with two or more risk factors continues to the next stage of the process. Second, families enroll in Early Start for a one-month assessment period to become acquainted with the program and so Early Start can learn about the family. During this time, families engage in an in-depth needs assessment based on a series of conversation topics. Third, families who consent to participate then are fully enrolled in the program for longer-term services based on their risk factors.

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Where to find out more

Early Start Project Ltd.

Postal Address:
P.O. Box 21013
Edgeware,
Christchurch 8143
New Zealand

Street Address:
354 Armagh St
Linwood,
Christchurch 8011
New Zealand

Phone: +64 3365 9087
Fax: +64 3365 9237
Email: reception@earlystart.co.nz
Web: www.earlystart.co.nz 

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