Citation

Boschek HJ, König C, Kügler KJ. Gesundheitswesen 2004; 66(3): 196-201.

Vernacular Title

ENfants - Verbesserung der Prävention und Frühförderung bei Kindern mit Verhaltens- und Entwicklungsstörungen im Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis.

Affiliation

Kreisgesundheitsamt Ennepe-Ruhr. h.boschek@en-kreis.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-2004-813032

PMID

15088225

Abstract

Developmental behavioural disorders in early childhood are a serious public health problem, because they signify a higher risk of social, regulatory and emotional impairment in later life. The public health office in Ennepe-Ruhr develops in cooperation with the communities a programme of health promotion for children and their families. An important motive is continually rising costs for supporting children with developmental problems. An element in the programme is a project of counselling mothers with babies and toddlers with excessive crying, serious sleep disorders and anxiety problems. This example of early intervention promises short-term relief, early identification of problem children and the strengthening of parental resources. A key issue is the introduction of a systematic evaluation of all communal funding for measures of support for preschool children. It shows that such measures start relatively late, and the coordination at community level is not always optimal. Some progress has been made, but criteria to measure the efficiency of current health promotion are still lacking. According to public health research early intervention for risk groups (single mothers, migrant families or families depending on public assistance) promises to give children and their families a better social and health perspective in life. It should be a primary health target for communities to develop evidence-based health programmes for children, focussing on mental and social well-being. Studies indicate that such interventions might have positive financial results.

Language: de