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Early Intervention - What health services are available to help my child thrive?
Early Intervention (EI) is about making sure children with additional health or learning needs have the necessary support to grow and thrive in the early years from 0-5.
There are two main providers of EI in New Zealand:
- The Child Development Service (CDS), a non-medical service of Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand.
- Early Intervention Services (EIS) at Learning Support, Ministry of Education.
The first of these, the Child Development Service, is delivered through your local Te Whatu Ora provider, which until July 2022, was your local District Health Board.
So how do I access CDS?
Normally your GP, Plunket Nurse, or paediatrician will refer you to your local CDS.
CDS provides ongoing services to meet the health needs of children with developmental delays or a disability. They operate on specific entry criteria provided by the Ministry of Health, so someone from CDS will contact you on referral, to see if your child qualifies. This is also an opportunity for you to discuss what goals you have for your child and to discuss any difficulties your child may be experiencing.
Unlike the Ministry of Education’s EIS, which is for children from the age of 0-5, CDS support is available until your child is 16. Both services are government funded and free of charge.
As with the old DHB system, service delivery can vary in structure and format, according to which part of the country you live in, but it is likely a Child Development Team will form around your child, who will coordinate assessments and support. Where possible, support will be delivered in your home, allowing you to take an active role in your child’s care.
Who is in the Child Development Team?
Depending on the nature of your child’s delay or disability, you may have contact with several different professionals, or potentially only one. Most visits are likely to take place in your home where health professionals can assess your child in their everyday activities and offer ideas on how to support their development.
These professionals may include:
Physiotherapists, who assess your child’s play and movements and how this impacts on their development.
Occupational therapists, who provide strategies to help your child with everyday activities. They may assess your child’s sensory, motor and perceptual skills.
Speech Language Therapists/Dieticians, who can address feeding and swallowing concerns in babies and young children. They will offer give guidance on how to make sure your child is eating safely. They may also offer support for problem eating.
Clinical Psychologists, who will assess your child’s learning, social and cognitive skills. They may also wish to meet with your child’s teachers or kaiako at their Early Childhood Education Centre or Kohanga Reo.
Social Workers, who will help you access the resources and services you need.
ASD Coordinator who helps families identify developmental goals for autistic children
CDS Coordinator who manages referrals and coordinates the members of the Development Team to ensure you are getting the help you need.
Things for parents to remember:
- Even if you feel some relief that concerns about your child’s development are now being addressed, it is natural to also feel stress and anxiety at the beginning of assessments and services. But remember, you are taking positive action for your child’s development.
- **As the expert on your child, you should always be consulted about all aspects of their treatment. **
- Children progress best when there is a mutually respectful and collaborative relationship between their parents and EI professionals.
- Be prepared for the process to take some time and take it one day at a time. What is an issue now may not be an issue next month or next year. Celebrate each achievement.
- Remember your child is a child first and foremost. Build in time for them to play, explore and simply enjoy your company, and that of the rest of your family.
- It is easy to get overwhelmed by repeated visits to or from health professionals. Space them out if possible, to allow you and your child to recharge between appointments.
- **Take a support person with you for important visits. **Tell them about any issues you wish to raise beforehand, so they can remind you during the appointment if you need it.
- If you are unclear in any way about what a health professional is saying to you – be it medical jargon or complicated processes – ask for clarification.
- Keep all your child’s relevant medical information in an easily accessible folder, or electronic device.
For more on Early Intervention, check out other articles in this series on Awhi Nga Matua. You might also find the resources below useful, which include website, books and articles from the IHC Library. Or contact the IHC library direct to have a chat about what you need on 0800 442 442 or email: Librarian@ihc.org.nz.
Videos:
· What is Early Intervention? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TdNbOco9jU)
· The Power of Early Intervention: What happens early matters for a lifetime (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doZAS-tHBm4)
Helpful websites:
· Early Intervention Services - www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/teaching-and-learning/early-intervention/ )
· Plunket Whanau Awhina - www.plunket.org.nz
· Children’s Health, Starship, Te Whatu Ora /Te Toka Tumai Auckland -www.adhb.health.nz/our-services/a-z-services/childrens-health/
· Child Development Centre, Te Whatu Ora/ Waikato - www.waikatodhb.health.nz/about-us/a-z-of-services/child-development-centre/
· Child Health, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand/Lakes - www.healthpoint.co.nz/public/paediatrics/child-health-lakes-te-whatu-ora/child-development-team/
· Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand/Southern - www.southernhealth.nz/services/child-development-service-southland-southern-te-whatu-ora)
· Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand/Waitaha Canterbury - www.cdhb.health.nz/health-services/child-development-service/
· Community Child Health, Te Whatu Ora/Waitemata - www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/hospitals-clinics/clinics-services/community-child-health
· Child Development Service, Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital Te Whatu Ora/Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley - www.ccdhb.org.nz/our-services/wellington-childrens-hospital/
· Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand/MidCentral - www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz/HealthServices/ChildHealth/Pages/Child-Development.aspx
· Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People - www.whaikaha.govt.nz/support-and-services/specific-disability-services/child-development-services
· Early Intervention Foundation (www.eif.org.uk)
Resources
Early childhood intervention without tears :
Early childhood intervention without tears :
"This essay describes an enhanced Team Around the Child (TAC)...
"This essay describes an...
Early Intervention Every Day! :
Early Intervention Every Day! :
"Effective early intervention doesn't stop when the provider leaves...
"Effective early...
CARA's kit for toddlers :
CARA's kit for toddlers :
"CARA's Kit stands for Creating Adaptations for Routines and...
"CARA's Kit stands for...
Early intervention practices around the world
Early intervention practices around the world
Describes effective early intervention practices at work in 13...
Describes effective early...
The early intervention guidebook for families and professionals :
The early intervention guidebook for...
"Shows what early intervention looks like when it is based on...
"Shows what early...
Group play interventions for children :
Group play interventions for children :
"Group play interventions are used to meet a broad range of...
"Group play interventions...
Early learning goals for children with special needs
Early learning goals for children with...
Provides suggestions for those working with children with...
Provides suggestions for...
Small steps forward :
Small steps forward :
"When young children are diagnosed with conditions such as Down's...
"When young children are...
Small steps forward
Small steps forward
"When young children are diagnosed with conditions such as Down's...
"When young children are...
DEC recommended practices :
DEC recommended practices :
"Guides the development and implementation of an effective early...
"Guides the development and...
Teaching individuals with developmental delays :
Teaching individuals with developmental...
Offers detailed descriptions of current programs and addresses the...
Offers detailed...
Working with families of young children with special needs
Working with families of young children...
"This user-friendly book presents research-based best practices for...
"This user-friendly book...
Inclusion in the early childhood classroom :
Inclusion in the early childhood classroom :
"In this engaging book, the authors share stories from their...
"In this engaging book, the...
Prevent-teach-reinforce for young children :
Prevent-teach-reinforce for young children :
"Now early childhood professionals have their own guide to the...
"Now early childhood...
Helping children to improve their gross motor skills :
Helping children to improve their gross...
"This guided curriculum offers a way to help children and young...
"This guided curriculum...
Helping children to improve their gross motor skills :
Helping children to improve their gross...
"This guided curriculum offers a way to help children and young...
"This guided curriculum...
Cerebral palsy in infancy: targeted activity to optimize early growth and development
Cerebral palsy in infancy: targeted...
"Cerebral Palsy in Infancy is a thought-provoking book which...
"Cerebral Palsy in Infancy...
Family-based practices
Family-based practices
"Addresses the topic of family-based practices describing specific...
"Addresses the topic of...
What is Early Intervention?
What is Early Intervention?
Early intervention means identifying and providing effective early...
Early intervention means...
The Power of Early Intervention :
The Power of Early Intervention :
Early intervention - tackling problems before they become more...
Early intervention -...
Early Intervention Services
Early Intervention Services
NZ Ministry of Education website explaining the Early Intervention...
NZ Ministry of Education...
Plunket Whanau Awhina
Plunket Whanau Awhina
"Plunket is a charity and Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest support...
"Plunket is a charity and...
Children’s Health, Starship, Te Whatu Ora /Te Toka Tumai Auckland
Children’s Health, Starship, Te Whatu Ora...
Information on children's health services at Te Whatu Ora Te Toka...
Information on children's...
Child Development Centre, Te Whatu Ora/ Waikato
Child Development Centre, Te Whatu Ora/...
Summary of services and contact information for the Waikato Child...
Summary of services and...
Child Health, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand/Lakes
Child Health, Te Whatu Ora Health New...
Brief overview of the service and submission forms for a referral.
Brief overview of the...
Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand/Southern
Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora...
Contact information for the Child Development Service, Southland,...
Contact information for the...
Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand/Waitaha Canterbury
Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora...
Child Development Service website, includes a description of the...
Child Development Service...
Community Child Health, Te Whatu Ora/Waitemata
Community Child Health, Te Whatu...
Overview of Community Child Health and the services provided,...
Overview of Community Child...
Child Development Service, Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital Te Whatu Ora/Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
Child Development Service, Wellington...
Overview of the service, the professional staff on the team and...
Overview of the service,...
Child Development Service, Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand/MidCentral
Child Development Service, Te Whatu...
Brief explanation of the Child Development Service, the type of...
Brief explanation of the...
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
Brief description of Child Development Services and how to access...
Brief description of Child...
Foundations
Foundations
UK website Foundations, a result of the merger between What Works...
UK website Foundations, a...
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I’m Meryl Richards. What a pleasure it’s been to join the Awhi team. I get to spend my days researching information that supports me as a parent, and sometimes challenges me to rethink what I thought I knew. My hope is that it will be useful to you too. I live in Kapiti with my partner and two teenage boys, and spend as much time as possible in the surrounding bush and at the beach.
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The Awhi Ngā Mātua team would like to thank Takai, the IHC Foundation and the Dines Family Charitable Trust for their generous contributions to our work. A huge thank you also to the IHC Programmes team, in particular the IHC Library which has worked so hard to make their remarkable collection available to us.