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AIDES INITIATIVE

February 26, 2015

Pascal Plamondon-Gomez and Lisa Ellington

Presentation – Health Forum

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AIDES INITIATIVE: What is it?

Intersectoral action for child development and their safety An approach that is focused on children’s needs: well-being,

safety and development (0-18 years) Ecosystemic practical intervention aimed at improving

collaboration between: • Parents• Children• Workers• Concerned partners

It strives for a common understanding of the needs of children and their families.

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AIDES INITIATIVE: What is it?

The tools: • Analytical framework (points of reference on needs)

• Participatory approach

• Common analysis grid on the child’s developmental needs

• Preliminary analysis grid on the child’s developmental needs

• Analysis booklet on the child’s developmental needs

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In Quebec: AIDES Initiative (summary)

2003-2005 Training a group of practitioners and researchers to adapt the Assessment framework (tools from England)

2005-2007 Testing of tools and development of a participatory approach with parents and intersectoral partners

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In Quebec: AIDES Initiative (cont’d)

2008-2011Experimentation with a hundred children: CJ and CSSS (regions 04, 06 and 17)

2011-2012Tweaking of the tools, development of practice guidelines

Starting from 2013Training provided in various regions of Quebec and 2nd

phase of the AIDES project

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Favourable context

• Modifications to the Youth Protection Act (2007): promoting the participation of parents and youth in all decisions that affect them.

• Openness of the social service institutions in order to go from a practice focused on PROBLEMS towards a practice focused on the DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN.

• An increasing amount of partnerships between the First Nations organisations and the province (e.g. collaboration agreements).

For who?“It takes a village to raise a child”

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Education network (elementary and high schools)

Organisations associated with employment

Primary services

Cultural organisations (recreational services, etc.)

Youth centre, family centre, women’s centre, organisations for men, street worker, etc.

The child’s parents and the family and social network of the child and his/her family (relatives, friends, neighbours)

Early childhood network (ECC, family child care service)

Other partners

Police department

Health centre (services intended for children and/or parents) E.g.: MCH nurse, NNADAP agent, mental health worker, etc.

Youth protection services

Consequences for children:Optimal development

Is now front and centre

Receiving support from the people (family network and partners) who are concerned by the child’s well-being, safety and development

*Not only for those ages 0 to 6 years, but also for those ages 0 to 18 years!

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Consequences for parents: Participation and power to act

Sharing a common understanding of the needs of your child and family

Enabling them to focus on their strengths Creating an opportunity to rally, discuss and be listened to Offering the opportunity to learn together Providing objective and impersonal information Reduce asymmetric relationships and confrontation Awareness-raising effects Promoting understanding of the intervention plan

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Consequences for the partners:Effectiveness of the services and improvement of the collaboration

Providing: • Common terminology• Clear points of reference on child development• The same parameters to define their needs and progress

Promoting information exchanges

Facilitating referrals

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Consequences for the partners:Effectiveness of the services and improvement of the collaboration (cont’d)

Offering support for the planning of actions and services:• Overall picture of the strengths and difficulties

influencing the response to the child's needs• By better prioritising the actions to be taken

Providing complementary assistance to families Providing practical support for the implementation of

actions Sharing responsibilities

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AIDES INITIATIVETHE TOOL: ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

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Spirit of the framework: Principles and foundations

1. Ecosystemic analysis of the child development needs2. Participation of the child and his/her parents and family3. Inter-professional and inter-organisational collaboration;

partnership is a prerequisite4. Based on theoretical foundations and concepts

(attachment, parenting skills, the family’s strengths, empowerment)

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ECOSYSTEMIC ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ON THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

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Several practical tools support the framework

E.g.: common grid and preliminary analysis guide

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COMING SOON: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AND

SELECTION OF 2 PILOT COMMUNITIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

AIDES INITIATIVE IN 2015-2017

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“Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success.”

– Henry Ford