Nepean Area Informal Nepean Area Informal Parent Discussion Group Parent Discussion Group

ProjectProject

Louisa McKay- Bronte Child and Family Louisa McKay- Bronte Child and Family Centre Mission AustraliaCentre Mission Australia

Karen van Woudenberg - Families First Karen van Woudenberg - Families First Community Program Officer Department of Community Program Officer Department of

Community ServicesCommunity Services

Families First Families First is a NSW government strategy to is a NSW government strategy to increase the effectiveness of early intervention increase the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention services for families with children and prevention services for families with children 0-8 years0-8 years

It aims to support parents, carers and It aims to support parents, carers and communities to raise healthy childrencommunities to raise healthy children

It is a statewide strategy delivered by key human It is a statewide strategy delivered by key human service agencies, with the Department of service agencies, with the Department of Community Services as the lead agency through Community Services as the lead agency through the Communities Division the Communities Division

Healthier children and parents and better functioning Healthier children and parents and better functioning familiesfamilies

Children better prepared to learn when they start schoolChildren better prepared to learn when they start school Reduction in conditions that lead to mental health Reduction in conditions that lead to mental health

problems in childrenproblems in children Improved recognition and early intervention for post Improved recognition and early intervention for post

natal depression and other mental health issues in natal depression and other mental health issues in parents with new babiesparents with new babies

Greater parental participation in education and trainingGreater parental participation in education and training Communities in which people interact and are friendly Communities in which people interact and are friendly

places to bring up childrenplaces to bring up children Reduction in the conditions that lead to child abuse and Reduction in the conditions that lead to child abuse and

neglectneglect Reduction in juvenile and adult crimeReduction in juvenile and adult crimeFamilies First Outcomes Framework New South Wales Data Report June 2004 p 2Families First Outcomes Framework New South Wales Data Report June 2004 p 2

Families First outcomesFamilies First outcomes:-:-

Nepean Area incorporating

Blue Mountains Penrith and Hawkesbury

LGA’s

Population 307,787 (2001)

Families with children

under 15yrs (47.2%)

BackgroundBackground

Commissioned research into the Commissioned research into the needs of parents and carers in the needs of parents and carers in the Nepean Area in 2002 Nepean Area in 2002

Identified a number of projects Identified a number of projects which could enhance services for which could enhance services for parents with young childrenparents with young children

Families First projects developed in Families First projects developed in Nepean AreaNepean Area

Early Intervention Family WorkersEarly Intervention Family Workers Strengthening Community Strengthening Community

Connections Projects in four priority Connections Projects in four priority communities communities

Transition to School ProjectTransition to School Project Young Parents Support Program Young Parents Support Program Service Network ProjectService Network Project Area Health Early Childhood and Area Health Early Childhood and

Family Nurses Universal Home Family Nurses Universal Home Visiting ProgramVisiting Program

Learning and Development ProjectLearning and Development Project Informal Parent Discussion GroupsInformal Parent Discussion Groups

Development of Informal Parent Development of Informal Parent Discussion Group ProjectDiscussion Group Project

Research recommended a parenting Research recommended a parenting education strategy that provided informal education strategy that provided informal facilitated discussion activities in local facilitated discussion activities in local neighbourhoods and where parents were neighbourhoods and where parents were eg workplaces, neighbourhood venues.eg workplaces, neighbourhood venues.

Two projects Blue Mountains and Penrith/ Two projects Blue Mountains and Penrith/ HawkesburyHawkesbury

Blue Mountains ExperienceBlue Mountains Experience

Higher level of :Higher level of : Formal parenting support service Formal parenting support service

provision in Blue Mountainsprovision in Blue Mountains Service networkService network

Challenge to access hard to reach Challenge to access hard to reach familiesfamilies

Focus on commuting parents, Focus on commuting parents, working parents and isolated working parents and isolated communitiescommunities

Parents on TrackParents on Track Play and Chat in Mt VictoriaPlay and Chat in Mt Victoria Family BushwalkFamily Bushwalk

Penrith/ Hawkesbury experiencePenrith/ Hawkesbury experience

Less coordinated service networkLess coordinated service network Lower levels of formal parent education Lower levels of formal parent education

provisionprovision Fragmented family support service deliveryFragmented family support service delivery Larger population Larger population

• Networking & partnerships with other Networking & partnerships with other organisationsorganisations

• Finding gaps in the community & meeting Finding gaps in the community & meeting the need.the need.

• Provision of strengths based programs that Provision of strengths based programs that meet the needs of parents where they are meet the needs of parents where they are at on their journey as a parent.at on their journey as a parent.

• Outcome based evaluation.Outcome based evaluation.

Key StrategiesKey Strategies

Sydney West Area Health Sydney West Area Health

Neighbourhood Centres Neighbourhood Centres The Warehouse Youth Health Centre The Warehouse Youth Health Centre

CentrelinkCentrelink Department of Community Services Department of Community Services

Preschools and Childcare CentresPreschools and Childcare Centres Kingswood TAFEKingswood TAFE Panthers on the ProwlPanthers on the Prowl

Networks and PartnershipsNetworks and PartnershipsEvery program is provided in collaboration with other servicesEvery program is provided in collaboration with other services..

More PartnershipsMore Partnerships

• Neighbourhood CentresNeighbourhood Centres• AnglicareAnglicare• Penrith CouncilPenrith Council• BurnsideBurnside• Connecting Central Penrith ProjectConnecting Central Penrith Project• Penrith Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Penrith Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Project (PATSI)Project (PATSI)• Penrith Women’s Health CentrePenrith Women’s Health Centre• Mamre Project Mamre Project

Find the Gaps & Meet the NeedFind the Gaps & Meet the Need

Conversations – Workers & local communityConversations – Workers & local community Consultations – Listen to people, surveys & keep Consultations – Listen to people, surveys & keep

service providers informed. service providers informed. Connections – Reinforce the benefits of working Connections – Reinforce the benefits of working

together, be prepared to lead a project and also together, be prepared to lead a project and also to be led. to be led.

Commitment – Show respect & stick to your wordCommitment – Show respect & stick to your word

Program DevelopmentProgram Development Parents & carers determine what Parents & carers determine what

the program looks like.the program looks like. Program is informal, non-Program is informal, non-

threatening, relaxed and as unlike a threatening, relaxed and as unlike a classroom structure as possible.classroom structure as possible.

Parents are encouraged to identify Parents are encouraged to identify their strengths with their parenting.their strengths with their parenting.

Facilitator needs to be flexible and Facilitator needs to be flexible and non-judgemental.non-judgemental.

Families Targeted 2004-2006Families Targeted 2004-2006

CALD ( Southern Sudanese)CALD ( Southern Sudanese) FathersFathers Aboriginal Aboriginal Young parentsYoung parents Women in gaolWomen in gaol Working parentsWorking parents Isolated familiesIsolated families Economically disadvantaged familiesEconomically disadvantaged families Foster Carer’sFoster Carer’s

GroupsGroups Working parents at Penrith City CouncilWorking parents at Penrith City Council MUMS( Mums Under Massive Stress)MUMS( Mums Under Massive Stress) Emu Plains Women’s Correctional CentreEmu Plains Women’s Correctional Centre Groups in Neighbourhood CentresGroups in Neighbourhood Centres Young Parents NetworkYoung Parents Network Southern Sudanese Southern Sudanese AboriginalAboriginal Dads Dads Foster CarersFoster Carers

Evaluation Evaluation

Performance is measured against project Performance is measured against project outcomesoutcomes

Increased parent care knowledgeIncreased parent care knowledge Increased parent carer confidenceIncreased parent carer confidence Improved access to learningImproved access to learning Increased parent carer local networks Increased parent carer local networks

with other familieswith other families Increase ease of access to appropriate Increase ease of access to appropriate

health and community serviceshealth and community services Evaluation is an ongoing process recorded as Evaluation is an ongoing process recorded as

worker observations and parent reports worker observations and parent reports Outcomes are documented after every Outcomes are documented after every

activity.activity.

Pre-natal discussion groups for Pre-natal discussion groups for young mums and their partners.young mums and their partners.

Kids & Dads DayKids & Dads Day Target young fathersTarget young fathers Targeted activities for CALD Targeted activities for CALD

FamiliesFamilies

Goals for the FutureGoals for the Future

Parents find it easier to raise, love and Parents find it easier to raise, love and care for their children when they have:care for their children when they have:•A sense of control over their livesA sense of control over their lives•Knowledge and appreciation of child Knowledge and appreciation of child developmentdevelopment•Personal resources such as self Personal resources such as self esteem/being able to cope with stressesteem/being able to cope with stress•The support of extended family and The support of extended family and social networks outside the familysocial networks outside the family•Good healthGood health•Adequate income and housingAdequate income and housing•A home that is safe and free from A home that is safe and free from violenceviolence

The End