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Families referred to a C hild A ssessment T eam: The C ampbelltown experience
Author(s) -
Kayrouz Norma,
Milne Susan,
Cottier Carolyn,
McDonald Jenny
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12678
Subject(s) - medicine , psychosocial , disadvantage , multidisciplinary team , presentation (obstetrics) , census , multidisciplinary approach , family medicine , newborn screening , social work , service delivery framework , pediatrics , service (business) , nursing , environmental health , population , psychiatry , social science , economy , sociology , political science , law , economics , radiology , economic growth
Aim To study the socio‐demographic and psychosocial risk factors of families presenting with their children for a diagnostic developmental assessment. Methods Socio‐demographic details of children who had a multidisciplinary developmental assessment with the C hild A ssessment T eam at C ampbelltown H ospital between J anuary 2009 and D ecember 2010 were collated and compared with census data. Results In 2009 and 2010, 277 families were seen by the C hild A ssessment T eam. A detailed socio‐demographic profile was available for 251 (91%) families. Parents seen in the clinic were more likely to be younger, single, born overseas, have less post‐school education, identify as Aboriginal and/or live in public housing compared with the district rates. Conclusions Families presenting to the developmental clinic have more socio‐economic disadvantage compared with the referring district. This has implications for service delivery and clinical presentation, and highlights the importance of the social worker's role in a developmental diagnostic team.