The New Patterns study: coordinated measures to combat child poverty

Abstract

Background Child poverty rates are rising in Norway with potential negative consequences for children. Services for families with low income are often fragmented and poorly integrated, and few coordinated initiatives have been implemented and evaluated in Norway. Aims: The aim of the current study is to evaluate how integrated and coordinated services provided over a prolonged period by a family coordinator are related to changes across a wide range of health, wellbeing and home environment indicators for the participants. Methods: The study uses a mixed methods approach utilising survey and register data, as well as information from interviews and shadowing, to document and evaluate outcomes associated with the intervention and the process of implementation. Data are gathered at baseline and annually throughout the duration of the study. Participants are identified to facilitate longer-term follow-up using register data. Conclusions: This project will develop important knowledge about the implementation of coordinated services to families with a low income, and how this way of organizing services influences important outcomes for the family members in the short and long term.

Self-reported and parent-reported mental health in children from low-income families in Agder, Norway: results from baseline measurements of New Patterns project participants

“…Importantly, previous studies have found lower SDQ scores among Nordic children and adolescents compared with peers in other (European) countries,29 so the scores obtained in the current study are higher than what has been reported previously. The finding of more symptoms of mental health problems in this sample can probably be attributed to the risk associated with low income and the challenging living conditions that characterises this sample 14…”

“…The finding of more symptoms of mental health problems in this sample can probably be attributed to the risk associated with low income and the challenging living conditions that characterises this sample. 14 …”

“…The New Patterns project targets families with children aged 0–17 living in Norway with low household income and additional challenges requiring long-standing need for services. 14 Families were referred to the intervention from different service sectors within the municipalities (ie, kindergarten, school, public health clinics, general practitioners, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, child protection services and mental health services). Each referral was subsequently discussed in a multidisciplinary intake team who selected the families that were considered eligible to participate based on their needs for coordinated longer-term follow-up.…”

“…13 The current study is based on data from New Patterns, an intervention study conducted in a sample of families with children younger than 17 purposefully recruited based on having household incomes below the lowincome threshold in Norway (ie, ≤60% of the equivalised population median income) as well as having longstanding needs for welfare services. 14 Families that are included in New Patterns receive a family coordinator who is responsible for follow-up of all family members for a period of 5 years and coordinate services that are involved with the family. Norwegian register-based and community-based observational studies have shown that children and adolescents from households with lower income and low SES have a higher frequency of mental disorders relative to higher income peers.…”

Study design of ‘Move More’: Development and feasibility of a social-prescribing intervention to increase physical activity among inactive Danes

“…During the feasibility phase, the social-prescribing intervention will be tested in urban and rural areas of Denmark, whereas the participating cases from general practices and SCs will have different delivery contexts. Hence, the test and refinement of the programme theory are based on diverse feasibility studies, and the results of the ‘Move More’ study are thus expected to be relevant beyond the participating cases [30]. Furthermore, we consider the perspectives and resources of key stakeholders when developing the intervention, which is expected to maximise acceptability and ensure favourable conditions for planning future implementation.…”