Components of Integrated Child and Family Hub Model for Adversity and Mental Health

The Hub components were co-designed during the formative phase of this project. We are currently in the process of planning to implement the Child and Family Hub at IPC Health in Wyndham Vale. We will implement 6 Hub components and activities (see Figure 1) at IPC Health Wyndham Vale this November (2021).

These include:

• Partnerships with families: intentional creation and strengthening of connections between the Hub and community groups and individuals.
• Family friendly entry into the Hub: a ‘no wrong door’ approach in which caregivers are safely engaged in a conversation about adversity and provided with any necessary support and/or referrals regardless of how they enter the Hub.
• Workforce development: workforce capacity building and training of Hub practitioners to better identify and respond to adversity i.e., how to engage families in a safe and respectful conversation to identify adversities and connect families to relevant support.
• Multidisciplinary case discussions: monthly professional development with intersectoral Hub practitioners to embed training learnings into practice and facilitate between-practitioner referrals (i.e., ‘warm referrals’).
• Mapped referral pathways into and out of the Hub: systematic mapping of available health, community and social sector supports and services in the local area, linked to training of Hub practitioners to use this information with families.
• Wellbeing coordination: In Wyndham Vale, a Wellbeing Coordinator will support caregivers to identify the holistic needs of their child and/or family and assist them to navigate relevant services and supports in the community, social and health sectors.  

The integrated Hub model of care will be tested for 12 months and evaluated using a mixed-methods realist evaluation approach. 

Figure 1. Components of Integrated Child and Family Hub model for Adversity and Mental Health