Enabling Vulnerable Families to Make Healthy Choices Vulnerable families are able to make healthy choices. Many families in Counties Manukau find it very difficult to live healthy lives and are vulnerable. Vulnerable families may have low incomes through unemployment or low-wage jobs, be new immigrants, have relationship difficulties, suffer from domestic violence or crime, or simply become isolated in their community. It is these vulnerable families, for whom a healthy lifestyle is a low priority, who are most at risk of diabetes.
The Ministry of Social Development, Family and Community Service (FACS) is working with Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) to provide leadership for the development of integrated services that focus on the situation and needs of vulnerable families to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes, and to provide better support and opportunity for those with diabetes and complications.
This action area operates in a complex multi-agency environment.
Interventions/Initiatives for 2005/2006 The interventions/initiatives that are being implemented within this action area in 2005/2006 are: | Interventions/Initiatives | KPIs/Milestones | 9.1 Establishing a leadership hub for the Vulnerable Families action area
Strengthening Families Steering Group (SF) has agreed to be the leadership hub for the Vulnerable Families action area to lead and drive the work programme.
SF is an existing cross sector collaborative process for case management of vulnerable families, with multiple problems. | By July 2005, SF has officially incorporated Let’s Beat Diabetes (LBD) into its work programme. | 9.2 Improving referral pathways
Note: The new Family Start service offers great opportunity for improved services targeting young families. Identification and referral criteria will need to reflect nutrition/activity issues for families.
Developmental area/outputs reliant on how Family Start develops.
Key partners Key linkages - LBD 1.2 – 1.6; action area 2; 5.2 – 5.4; action area 6; action area 8; action area 9; 10.6 – 10.10; and the evaluation.
- CMDHB Healthy Housing; Paths.
| | 9.3 Enhancing SF by including diabetes risk factors and complications into their review processes, with defined linkages and referrals to the health sector
Improving awareness and knowledge about the risks vulnerable low income families have in relation to obesity and diabetes, so SF is able to build it into their existing case management programme.
Supporting improved risk identification and referral pathways for appropriate support.
Key partners - FACS, Salvation Army Family and Social Services.
Key linkages - LBD 1.2 – 1.6; action area 2; 5.2 – 5.4; action area 6; action area 8; action area 9; 10.6 – 10.10; and the evaluation.
- CMDHB Healthy Housing; Paths.
| By 2006, obesity and diabetes prevention and management workshops facilitated for SF. By 2006, resources provided/made available to SF. Linkages/relationships between SF and other related services such as Well Child, Family Start established.
| 9.4 Improving ‘in home’ nutrition and health service access by providing training for agencies that access at-risk families. Improving health triage for families presenting with multiple problems
Organisations such as the Salvation Army already have access to large numbers of vulnerable families through support networks and peer support systems, but do not have an awareness and skills about the importance of good nutrition and so cannot pass on this information and knowledge to the families.
The Salvation Army’s existing parenting and mentoring programmes will be enhanced to include
include nutrition, obesity and diabetes prevention aspects; and its staff and volunteer workers will be upskilled to be able to provide nutrition, obesity and diabetes prevention aspects.
Key partners - FACS, Salvation Army Family and Social Services.
Key linkages - LBD 1.2 – 1.6; action area 2; 5.2 – 5.4; action area 6; action area 8; action area 9; 10.6 – 10.10; and the evaluation.
- CMDHB Healthy Housing; Paths.
| By Nov 2005, training introduced for Salvation Army staff and volunteer workers. By Feb 2006, in home education commences. By Feb 2006, improved triage and referral.
| 9.5 Ensuring food parcels are healthy, well-balanced and nutritious
It has been identified that food parcels are not well prepared in terms of nutritious food being accessed by vulnerable families. LBD will work with food parcel providers and the Food Industry to improve quality of food parcels. Healthy and appropriate recipes will be included in the parcels to inform/assist recipients.
Key partners - ACS, Salvation Army Family and Social Services, Food Industry, ARPHS
Key linkages - LBD 1.2 – 1.6; action area 2; 5.2 – 5.4; action area 6; action area 8; action area 9; 10.6 – 10.10; and the evaluation.
- CMDHB Healthy Housing; Paths.
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Progress Updates Click here for progress updates on these interventions/initiatives
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