Pathway to Good Health (PTGH) delivers targeted health screening, assessment, planning and referral to Victorian children and young people aged 0-17 years entering or re-entering statutory care. This includes children and young people in kinship care, foster care and residential care.
The program is delivered through a designated health service in each of the 17 Child Protection Areas. For a list of all service providers, refer to Pathway to good health for children in care.
Children entering or re-entering statutory care will be automatically referred to the PTGH service in the Child Protection area they live in. This includes Aboriginal children, some of whom will be case managed by authorised Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) under the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC) program.
A PTGH Navigator is attached to the designated health service and works collaboratively with child protection practitioners to gather information to determine the most appropriate pathway for health screening, assessment, planning and referral. Practitioners work collaboratively with PTGH Navigators to facilitate timely consultation, information sharing and coordination for children and young people.
Specific guidance for child protection practitioners collaborating with PTGH navigators can be found at PTGH - Overview and guidance for Child Protection Practitioners
- Pathway to good health for children in care
- Pathway to Good Health - consent to release information
- Pathway to Good Health - Overview and guidance for child protection practitioners
- Health and wellbeing of Child Protection clients - advice
- Placing a child in care - procedure