This mastermind will be structured around a central systems-design problem: early identification during pregnancy and infancy only improves outcomes if it activates support that is timely, trusted and materially useful. This aligns to various discussions across research, policy and practice communities identifying that the issue is not a lack of awareness of infant and young parent vulnerability. The more difficult problem is that families often become visible to systems through pathways still organised around risk, reporting and statutory escalation. Earlier contact can therefore intensify surveillance without shifting the conditions driving concern. Delegates will participate in an interactive pathway-design exercise using Slido and small-group prompts. The purpose is to generate a concise set of practical reform moves that can inform a post-session policy design brief, focused on moving from earlier surveillance to earlier support.
Ms Catherine Cooney, Head of Program Brave Foundation
Dr Bengianni Halil-Pizzirani, Managing Director of Research & Evaluation, Impact Initiative
Dr Jennifer Weber, Senior Researcher, Brave Foundation
Ms Annette Toohey, Manager Community Partnerships Loddon Area DFFH
A 60-minute interactive mastermind. Three short opening provocations from the panel then delegates work in small groups on a live systems-design challenge using prompts and Slido. Final segment synthesises audience inputs into a shared set of practical reform moves (more than 40% of the session is interactive).
