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New evidence-based tool created to support conversations about children’s wellbeing
Freya Lucas
Aug 11, 2022
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The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has created the Children’s Wellbeing Continuum, an evidence-based tool designed to support conversations about children’s wellbeing.
Designed to enable caring adults, such as parents, educators, and early childhood professionals along with children themselves to more easily discuss and reflect on wellbeing, the Continuum can also support health literacy, and early identification and action when children are struggling.The Continuum is an accessible tool that can be used to provide a snapshot of a child's social-emotional wellbeing at a point in time. The four anchor points of the Children’s Wellbeing Continuum range from Good through to Coping, Struggling and Overwhelmed. The Continuum is not a screening or diagnostic tool.
“A continuum-based model recognises that children’s mental health and wellbeing changes over time, and aims to provide a simple tool for understanding and responding to concerns early to better meet the needs of children and families,” an RCH representative explained. The terminology applied in the Continuum has been carefully considered and tested throughout its design. It was developed using a three-phase study comprising a literature review, Delphi studies and user testing. It has the potential to play an important role in reducing stigma, facilitating the early detection of children who are struggling, and organising appropriate supports to prevent their progress to more serious mental health problems. A table that accompanies the Continuum in the downloadable PDF can be used to reflect on a child's wellbeing over the past four weeks.
Other resources that may provide support include Child mental health: Building a shared language, and the follow up piece Building a shared language for child mental health: 3 years on.
A toolkit from the FrameWorks Institute, along with this webinar from Child Family Community Australia, may also be of use. For more information on the Continuum, email Frank.Oberklaid@mcri.edu.au
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