The DHS Early Intervention Research Directorate (EIRD) was established in response to the Royal Commission into the Child Protection System (2016 Nyland Report).
Recommendation 50 of that report outlined the role of EIRD as being to:
Prepare a Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy that is updated at least every five years:
- to identify service models that have proved effective or show promise in promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of children in South Australia;
- to serve as the basis of decisions by South Australian Government agencies to fund prevention and early intervention services;
- to form the basis of negotiations with the federal and local governments, with a view to coordinating funding priorities;
- Establish research partnerships and fund evaluations of innovative service models to determine their effectiveness and value for money; and
- Focus on the prevention and early intervention investment priorities identified in this report.
Epidemiological Approach
An epidemiological approach (or public health approach) uses research evidence, systems-thinking, and data to determine the factors associated with different health and welfare outcomes.
Co-design
Co-Design has been the commitment to bring together knowledge from diverse sources — data, research, practice and lived experience —to create and sustain a more evidence-informed and culturally responsive system.
Common Elements Approach
The Common Elements approach is a key strategy used to strengthen the Child and Family Support System workforce.
Community Engagement
The Lived Experience Network (LEN) provides people with lived experience with an ongoing mechanism to be involved in shaping the planning, monitoring and review of the Child and Family Support System.
External Academic Research
DHS partners with various academic institutes to undertake data capture and analysis, service model and tool development, evaluation, and modelling activities.
Trauma Responsive System Framework
The Trauma Responsive System Framework is a foundational document, designed to provide guidance for building our capacity to be trauma-responsive at all levels of our system.