Mixed- methods evaluation protocol for the Nurturing Connections Programme: a new Australian perinatal and infant mental health service

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Forming secure attachment relationships provides children with the best possible start to life Children from families with high psychosocial vulnerability and complex mental health needs eg caregivers with lived experience of trauma experiencing mental illness or substance abuse current or past domestic violence and or current or a history of child protection issues are at the greatest risk of experiencing attachment disturbances Nurturing Connections is a new early intervention service launched by the New South Wales State Ministry of Health targeting both caregiver adversity and the caregiver- child attachment relationships in families with high psychosocial vulnerability and complex mental health needs This paper outlines the evaluation protocol of the Nurturing Connections Programme