Models, theoretical design and formal evaluation of integrated specialist community health service provision for the first 2000 days: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review identifies evidence for design, models and evaluation of integrated care service provision for families and children in the first 2000 days, in the context of community-based specialised health, education and welfare services. DESIGN: Scoping review following the Joanna Briggs scoping review method. DATA SOURCES: Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane and PsycINFO. Grey literature used a manual search of original articles, and snowball technique to identify government and policy documents relevant to Australia. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Inclusion criteria were ‘population’ of prebirth to age 5; ‘concept’ of design, models and delivery of integrated specialist care for children and families; and ‘context’ of community-based specialised health, education and welfare services. Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) and free text searches were conducted in electronic database sources. Limits January 2010 to October 2022, full text, English language, human. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted independently by two authors using a piloted data extraction table and presented in table and narrative form. RESULTS: Full text of 11 articles were reviewed, domains were coded using four domains of a framework identified in one reviewed article to maintain consistency of reporting; ‘governance,’ ‘leadership,’ ‘organisational culture and ethos,’ and ‘front-line interdisciplinary practice.’ A fifth domain was identified, ‘access.’ CONCLUSIONS: Services providing integrated care for families in the early years will ideally be based on values generated through codesign with families and the community. Considerations include sound governance and leadership, shared vision, and commitment to providing accessible and culturally safe family-centred care.