Budget fact sheets 2007 - early years service hubs
The government is investing almost $2.5 million over the next two years into making core health, education and social services more accessible and better co-ordinated for vulnerable families with young children.
This is part of government’s commitment to ensuring that families are supported so that all children get the best start in life.
The Ministry of Social Development will work in partnership with selected communities to implement a joined-up and seamless approach to:
- Helping families better access services such as antenatal care; home visit programmes; parenting information, education and support; and keep them connected with other services in the community, including Well Child: Tamariki Ora, and quality childcare and education
- Enhancing government and community partnership arrangements.
This will increase from seven to thirteen the number of communities with Early Years Service Hubs.
Each hub will be supported by an Early Years Worker who will help with their initial set up, and work with providers and families to develop a strong network of Early Years Services in each community. Hubs will be able to access a Service Development Innovation fund to respond to specific gaps in family services in their community.
Some families find it difficult to access the support they need, or don’t know what’s available. Research and community feedback tells us that better co-ordinated services will help with this, and lead to better outcomes for young children. Early Years Service Hubs also enable real time learning and identification of the drivers for success in implementing family-centred services that are community lead and owned.
Early Years Service Hubs are part of an integrated system of universal, targeted, intensive and statutory services that support families with young children, so that all children get the best start in life.
Funding will be administered through the Ministry of Social Development’s Family and Community Services.
