JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) is the fastest growing childhood education sector in Australia. OSHC provides a unique opportunity to deliver programs to enhance primary-school age children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive wellbeing.

Objective:

To pilot the co-designed Connect, Promote and Protect Program (CP3) and conduct formative and process evaluations on how well CP3 achieved its intended aims, ascertain areas for improvement and determine how the CP3 model could be better sustained and extended into OSHC settings.

Methods:

A naturalistic formative and process evaluation of CP3’s implementation was undertaken in one and then five OSHC sites respectively. Qualitative and quantitative feedback from stakeholders (e.g., children, OSHC staff, educators, volunteers, families) was collected and incorporated iteratively for program improvement.

Results:

The formative and process evaluations demonstrated high program engagement, appropriateness and acceptability. Co-design with children was viewed as highly acceptable and empowered children to be part of the decision making at OSHC. Feedback highlighted how the CP3 program supported children in the four CP3 domains: 1) Build Wellbeing and Resilience; 2) Broaden Horizons; 3) Inspire and Engage; and 4) Connect Communities. Qualitative reports suggested that children’s wellbeing and resilience was indirectly supported through the Broaden Horizons, Inspire and Engage and Connect Communities CP3 principles. Matched sample t-test found that children’s prosocial behaviours increased (mean difference (MD)=.64; p=.04; t57= -2.06; 95% CI = -1.36 to -0.02) and peer problems decreased (MD=-.69; p=.01; t57= 2.57; 95% CI = 0.14 to 1.13) after participating in CP3. Program feasibility was high but dependent on additional resources and CP3 coordinator support.

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, CP3 is the first co-designed wellbeing program developed specifically for OSHC services and evaluated. This early evidence is promising. CP3 may provide a unique opportunity to respond to the voices of children in OSHC, and those that support them, through creative and engaging co-designed activities. Our research suggests that CP3 provides OSHC with a framework and high-quality program planning tool, that promotes tailored interventions developed with the unique needs and preferences of those that will use them.