...a focus on early childhood
Small Matters Newsletter
June 2006
The Peter Williams Trust fund was established in 1996 by the late Dr Alan & Dorothy Williams in memory of their son Peter. In their respective careers both Alan and Dorothy were a formidable team in the advocacy of quality services for pre-school children and their families, and especially for those children who faced the challenge of social and material disadvantage. This newsletter aims to keep you up to date on how the Trust funds are being utilised and to provide you with information on the programs that are helping the children of Victoria.
Economic Returns from Effective Early Intervention
RAND Corporation recently released a research brief that summarised the most effective practices and features of early intervention programs. Their study synthesized what is known from research literature about the short and long term benefits from early intervention programs and focussed on programs that provide child development services from the prenatal period until kindergarten entry. Key findings included:
> High quality early intervention programs for vulnerable children from birth to five years can help to alleviate the factors that place children at risk of poor outcomes in later life.
> Well designed interventions generate a positive return to society.
> Early childhood intervention programs yield benefits in behaviour, educational progression and attainment, delinquency and crime, and labour market success.
> Interventions carried out by better-trained caregivers and smaller child to staff ratios appear to provide more favourable results.
A summary of the briefing can be found at http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9145/index1.html
Victorian Co-operative on Children’s Services for Ethnic Groups (VICSEG)
VICSEG is a non-profit organisation that works with newly arrived refugee families and special humanitarian entrants. VICSEG has utilized the grant from the Peter Williams Trust to set up an innovative multicultural kinder-gym playgroup. Many of the refugee families that settle in Victoria are subject to profound trauma and disruption prior to their migration which results in behavioural problems amongst the children. VICSEG’s work with refugee families has found that playgroups and kinder-gym activities for children are an ideal healing environment that is able to support the process of nurturing with inviting and responsive play spaces. Evaluation of the kinder-gym has shown an increase in the confidence and self-esteem of the children as well as an improvement in their capacity to socialize with peers and interact positively with adults.
Save The Children
The Peter Williams Trust has also provided funds to assist in the mobile playbus initiated by Save The Children. This program aims to provide isolated and disadvantaged indigenous and non-indigenous children living in Victoria with opportunities to develop through play. Data shows that the attendance rate of Indigenous children in preschool was 35% lower than that of non-indigenous children. Younger Indigenous children living in public housing in inner-Melbourne do not have access to appropriate play facilities and opportunities. During the first few years of life, a child is totally dependent on others for physical care, love and intellectual stimulation. Failure to provide for these core needs may result in children who are unable to fulfil their true potential and are susceptible to violence, crime and drug usage and other addictions. The Playbus Program offers access to playgroups, games and toy library services. It gives young children the chance to socialise and interact with other children and adults, with parents being involved in the children’s activities.
Berry Street
Berry Street Victoria works with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families in Victoria. The Peter Williams Trust has provided funding towards Berry Street’s Take Two program which aims to provide intensive therapeutic services to clients of child protection who have suffered severe harm and are at risk of, or display emotional and behavioural problems. The Take Two program recognises the need to establish a support group and develop an infant video diary which has the aims to strengthen communication and relationships between the child and their parents/carers and to promote security and stabilisation.