Since 2016, the KidSTART programme has expanded to 15 Social Service Office (SSO) towns and will eventually serve eligible families in all 24 SSO towns by 2025.
Nationwide Expansion Progress of KidSTART
From 1 April 2024, KidSTART will be progressively expanded to 9 more towns - Hougang, Sengkang, Serangoon, Punggol, Tampines and Pasir Ris in 2024; with Queenstown, Clementi and Jurong East towns completing the nationwide reach in 2025.
New Family-Centric Model Approach
The expansion will also see a streamlining of KidSTART service provision to be more family-centric, moving away from its previous segmented components provided at home, community and preschool settings involving multiple practitioners.
Integration With ComLink+
Under the revised service model, KidSTART will also be integrated with ComLink+, an initiative where the Government similarly partners the community and corporates to strengthen support for lower-income families in their journey towards stability, self-reliance, and social mobility. While KidSTART focuses on providing specialist child development and parenting support to families, ComLink+ family coaches serve as a consistent touchpoint for the families across various programmes. Family coaches will support families’ in addressing their children’s preschool enrolment, attendance, immunisation as well as help families navigate social support services as they work towards their longer-term goals.
Journeying With Families As Early As Possible, From Pregnancy
Photo Credits: KidSTART Singapore
KidSTART is also offered at NUH and KKH when mothers attend their antenatal checks to reach out to pregnant mothers and their children as early as possible. Once the child is born, a KidSTART practitioner takes over by providing home-based support to the family on child development strategies until the child is 6 years old.
Rigorous, Specialised Training & Mentorship For KidSTART Practitioners
The nationwide expansion of the KidSTART programme will require around 100 more practitioners to be hired in this year and undergo extensive training in areas of child development, health and social needs of children and families. All practitioners are full-time professionals, backed by mentors and a multi-disciplinary team of child experts.
