September 2007

Evaluating the Tweddle Social Work Program 2006-2007

In September 2006 Tweddle introduced a Social Work Program which increased the capacity for Tweddle to identify and respond to a range of client difficulties.  The program has allowed Tweddle to establish a method for addressing client needs during admission and, if needed, it allows a client to be referred to community agencies on discharge of a residential program.  In February 2007 Tweddle, in collaboration with the Key Centre for Women's Health commenced an evaluation of the Social Work Program in order to assess:

• The impact of the program for parents,
• The outcomes achieved for the service and for the families
• The current criteria for referrals
• The level of demand of the program
• The strength of the referral process
• The Future direction of the social work service at Tweddle.

The outcomes of this research will allow Tweddle to grasp the value of its Social Work Program and will assist Tweddle in the direction it takes in the future.  This research will be published shortly - if you would like advice via email of the release of this paper please register here tweddle@tweddle.org.au.

August 2007

Evaluating the Tweddle@Raphael Pilot

Tweddle currently provides early parenting day programs (DSP) in seven municipalities throughout Victoria: Craigieburn in Hume, Epping in Whittlesea, Footscray in Maribyrnong, Melton, Terang in Corangamite, Williamstown in Hobson's Bay, and Werribee in Wyndham.

The aim of the programs is to provide support and education to parents, to enable them to attain an increase in parenting confidence and competence, to enhance and enjoy their parenting experience.

On June 1^st 2007 Tweddle At Raphael commenced. The program is the first early parenting day program in Geelong and operates every Friday for families with children up to the age of twelve months who are experiencing early parenting difficulties. The pilot is to test service effectiveness and regional demand for an early parenting day stay program. The model is an integrated service between Tweddle Child + Family Health Service and the Raphael Centre - St John of God's post natal depression service.

The research team at Tweddle were very keen to evaluate the statistics relating to Tweddle Geelong. From 1^st June 2007 to the 31^st August 2007 statistics relating to the amount of calls received and the length of waiting times, formed the basis of a report to determine what evidence existed on the demand of having a service such as Tweddle in the Geelong area.

July 2007

Research Partnership Between Tweddle and La Trobe University

In July 2007 Tweddle joined forces with the School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University in order to establish a research capacity at Tweddle to build knowledge in early parenting.  The partnership will be generate evidenced based research in order to strengthen our knowledge of parenting, families and children.  Our research will provide answers to many questions and will assist Tweddle in expanding and developing its current programs which in turn means an improved service for the community.   Research will be not only be clinically focused but will importantly include social research.

This is a new and exciting time for Tweddle, as we strengthen links to early parenting and research sectors across Australia, establish and undertake a strategic approach to research and continue with our work on more "opportunistic" projects.  Some of the research projects currently underway at Tweddle are as follow:

Be a Part of Focus Group Research at Tweddle

The Tweddle intake team consists of experienced nurses who are focused in either Maternal and Child Health or Early Childhood areas.  It is the intake team which provides parents with a telephone consultation, and they decide which program suits the parents best.  When a parent phones Tweddle for guidance, they are not automatically able to speak to an intake team member.  The parent is placed on a waiting list and, as it currently stands, a parents will receive their call within a two week period.  However, we here at Tweddle are committed to reducing that waiting period, and in order to do so we have reached out to the mothers of Melbourne for feedback, guidance and suggestions.

In July 2007, the research team at Tweddle decided that various focus groups would be held at Tweddle Footscray in order to generate feedback, which will allow us to improve the current system to better serve the community.  Onwards from August 2007 focus groups are in operation at Tweddle.  Mothers who participate are provided with a payment and a gift for their time. 

May 2007

A Randomised Early Parenting Intervention Trial (REPIT)

In May 2007 Tweddle once again joined with The Key Centre for Women's Health to undertake a project entitled The Randomised Early Parenting Intervention Trial (REPIT).  The aim of this research is to evaluate the Tweddle residential program, and ultimately to investigate whether participation in the residential early parenting program at Tweddle improves health outcomes of mothers and babies compared to standard primary health care.  The findings of this research will provide Tweddle with invaluable information which will guide Tweddle's practices and programs in the years to come.

2003

Research Partnership Between Tweddle and Key Centre for Women's Health

In 2003 Tweddle, in collaboration with the Key Centre for Women's Health, undertook a literature review and completed a research report which was a major step in investigating the effectiveness of early parenting services as an outcome for families.  This research, "Building an Evidence Base for Practice in Early Parenting Centres has led to significant change and development in the services provided at Tweddle.   It also reported that service satisfaction levels were high and such services did improve family functioning.  This research however was just a stepping stone for further research that Tweddle is now undertaking.