Nesta’s Post

Building on the foundations that Sure Start established in 1999, the new government is putting integrated early years support for families at the top of the policy agenda. But this time around, if councils want to ensure they don’t find themselves facing the same difficulties, they’ll need to make sure they have integrated data systems. That means getting the infrastructure for collecting and sharing data right from the very start. A new blog from Nesta looks at the lessons we can take from the devolved nations with longer-standing early years programmes:

Building on the foundations that Sure Start established in 1999, the new government is putting integrated early years support for families at the top of the policy agenda. But this time around, if councils want to ensure they don’t find themselves facing the same difficulties, they’ll need to make sure they have integrated data systems. That means getting the infrastructure for collecting and sharing data right from the very start. A new blog from Nesta looks at the lessons we can take from the devolved nations with longer-standing early years programmes:

Building on the foundations that Sure Start established in 1999, the new government is putting integrated early years support for families at the top of the policy agenda. But this time around, if councils want to ensure they don’t find themselves facing the same difficulties, they’ll need to make sure they have integrated data systems. That means getting the infrastructure for collecting and sharing data right from the very start. A new blog from Nesta looks at the lessons we can take from the devolved nations with longer-standing early years programmes:

With the help of EY one state government was able to optimize assistance funding for low-income families to maximize the number of households they can help. Learn how:

This fantastic new case study showcases how EY’s tools and analytics helped one state better understand challenges and maximize success of a temporary assistance program for low-income families. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eBcZuJ2u

Through the use of advance analytics, EY helps state health agencies to identify and address the challenges facing the most vulnerable of our citizens. This study focuses on how EY empowers agency directors with the technology to affect positive change.

#ICYMI The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released an RFI requesting public input on how ACF, in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, can better support interoperability between human services within and across states and local community resources, between states, and with ACF. It is critical for the public, ESPECIALLY state and county agencies that receive funding to support an array of human service programs (e.g., SNAP, WIC, NSLP, TANF, SSI, CTC, LIHEAP, CoC, ESG) to weigh in on using open health standards (aka USCDI and FHIR) to support interoperable data exchange between health and social service programs. With an annual budget of $88.2B for mandatory and discretionary appropriations, ACF is essential in supporting various programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. Please weigh in and share far and wide! 🙏 https://lnkd.in/eB8-8wuX

Includes Link to full report/pdf

Become manifesto – a call for action The Become open letter from care experienced children and young people raises concerns that Not enough safe, stable and suitable homes means too many children are forced to live apart from brothers and sisters and face daily instability as they’re moved miles away from everything they know, sometimes multiple times a year, and often without warning. Decisions on where children live are being driven by financial pressures and what is available rather than by a child’s wishes and feelings, and what is in their best interests. The Guardian newspaper reports on this (see ‘Places in council-run children’s homes in England fall by third as private firms take over’. 16th June 2024) The number of places in council-run children’s homes in England has fallen by a third since 2012 – at the same time as places in privately run profit-making children’s homes have soared, according to an Observer analysis of government data. The dramatic fall in council-run children’s homes, and local authorities’ increasing reliance on privately run provision, have helped drive a rise in children being housed hundreds of miles from their families, with private provision clustering in cheaper parts of the country. Let’s all consider remedial action we can take.

Glen Eira City Council CEO Rebecca McKenzie wrote an article for Public Sector Network on the growing financial pressures in Local Government. We recently partnered with Bayside City Council to keep in-home aged care going for over 2,000 residents while protecting staff jobs and entitlements despite significant strain due to recent reforms from the Royal Commission into Aged Care. Despite the financial risks, we were determined to find a solution that would allow us to continue providing these valued services to our community. This collaboration shows how councils can pool resources and expertise to ease financial pressures and maintain high service standards. Find out more about how we made this happen: https://brnw.ch/21wPhg1