Enhancing child development services for neurodivergent children in Waikato: A qualitative study
Background: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often face unmet needs, placing their well-being at risk. Effective healthcare delivery is important to enhance outcomes for these individuals. In New Zealand, limitations in funding and resources, compounded by escalating demand, have led to deficiencies in the provision of Child Development Services (CDS). This has resulted in prolonged waiting lists and children missing out on essential support. Objective: This project aimed to develop a proposed service delivery model for the Child Development Centre (CDC) in the Waikato district by considering stakeholders' perspectives regarding support for neurodivergent children and ways to adapt service delivery to ensure improved health and social outcomes. Participants: Stakeholders from health and education sectors, including CDC service users, clinicians, healthcare managers, education professionals, and policy representatives, were recruited using purposive sampling. Methods: This qualitative project had two phases: The first involved 41 semi-structured interviews inspired by grounded theory principles to uncover current perspectives and improvement ideas. The second phase, guided by co-design principles, featured two focus groups to formulate a service delivery model grounded in participant insights and literature. Findings: Findings revealed concerns about inadequate support, delayed CDC services, pathway navigation challenges, and inadequate infrastructure. Participants emphasised the need for improved collaboration, increased therapeutic support, age-spanning support, and a community-focused CDC integrated with schools. Findings are visually summarised in a proposed service delivery model. Conclusion: Enhancing experiences and outcomes for neurodivergent children requires collaborative, integrated efforts across sectors. The proposed service delivery model serves as a tool for guiding systemic changes and policy development.
Child Development Services, neurodevelopmental disorders, child disability, service delivery, multi-agency collaboration
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