Provide universal well-baby screening and home-visit services regardless of income, following Victoria, Australia's model¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article recommends early and regular health screening and well-baby care to identify and mitigate health issues including cerebral palsy, sensory and motor disabilities, respiratory illnesses, and learning and behavioral disorders. It highlights Victoria, Australia, which "provides a series of home visits to all mothers, regardless of income, until a baby is two years old," creating services "without differentiating between rich and poor—because all children and families need these supports."

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Services must be provided universally, without means-testing, so all children and families receive supports

Constraints¶

• Later attempts to correct early developmental problems are often more costly and less effective, per the article

Target Learners¶

• infants and toddlers from birth to age two
• mothers and families of all income levels

Target Learning Goals¶

• early identification and mitigation of health and developmental issues affecting learning

Related Strategies¶

• Home Visits
• Provide home visitors training and a structure for collaborative goal setting with attainable, child-focused goals
• Strengthen school-based mental health services, special educators and early-detection awareness programmes for depression and learning disorders
• Integrate caregiver-led child nutrition monitoring with other health services to increase sustainability

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• A Call to Action on Behalf of U.S. Babies. (2014). WestEd R&D Alert, Vol. 14, No. 3. http://forourbabies.org/wp/