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Parent Participation
References• Welsh Assembly Government
(2006) “Practice Guide for Children and Young People’s Partnerships”, DELLS Information Document No: 019-06, September 2006
• Family Policy Alliance (2005) “Parent Participation: Improving Services for Children and Families”, Parentline Plus
Framework
• Definition: anyone who plays a significant role in bringing up a child
• WAG adopted UNCRC – 7 core aims• UNCRC - Parents have primary
responsibility; Family given necessary assistance and support
• Policy drivers: Making the Connections, Children and Young People’s NSF, Parenting Action Plan
• Improve the quality of life of children and their families
• Parents are biggest single influence on children
• Can identify local issues, facilities• Services will may be more relevant,
responsive and better used• Increased trust in services• Parents may become volunteers, peer
educators, mentors
Why Parent Participation?
A model for Parent Participation
Wilcox – 5 levels of participation
• Information – telling parents what is planned• Consultation - offering options• Deciding together – encouraging new options• Acting together – deciding together on best
option• Supporting independent action – support to
develop own agenda
Understanding the Barriers - Parents
• Demands on time• Feel alienated from a service• May not use any service so are
“out of the loop”• Wary of meetings/form filling –
literacy, jargon, gender issues, trust• Practical issues – transport, access• May not feel contribution valued• Need support to contribute
Understanding the Barriers Professionals
• Demands on time• Previous unsuccessful efforts• Constant need to engage• Geographical spread of families• Training/experience• Fear of parents’ ‘wish-lists’
Information
• Information about local services; about children’s needs and parenting and about planned developments
• Systems that ensure information reaches as many parents as possible
• Take into account the different ways people are able to access it
• Parents can help produce user-friendly information
• Variety of ways of sharing information
Consultation
• What can parents influence? – consultation or deciding together?
• Use a range of methods of consulting • Make sure minority groups have their
views taken into account• Provide feedback to parents
Methods• Leaflets, newsletters, displays – go to where people are;
include a leaflet in the local paper; ask the paper to write an article and invite comments
• Surveys , meetings – door to door; set up focus groups; questionnaire with freepost reply envelope
• Working groups/forums – set up user forums; hold workshops/events
• Consider venue – “Ensuring Inclusion” (good practice checklist)
• List of methods, including advantages and disadvantages @
www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/idk/aio/68967
Questionnaires• Consider getting expert help to design questionnaire• Make sure questions are easy to understand• Avoid leading questions/phrase
in neutral terms• Pilot the question design• Have some open questions• Accessibility• Covering letter• Consider anonymity• Consider language (www.plainenglish.org.uk)
Make meetings work for parents
• Ensure meetings held at convenient times• Preparation• Help parents contribute• Keep paperwork short and simple
“The minutes were like double Dutch to me – it was all jargon and abbreviations”
• Ensure parents have a chance to speak, but without putting them on the spot
Equality and Diversity
• Fathers and male carers – activity rather than discussion; explicit in wanting involvement of fathers; male friendly images and language
• Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) parents – outreach, BME projects or groups, consider language and culture issues
• Parents of disabled children – Contact a Family, Council for Disabled Children (2004) “Parent Participation, improving services for disabled children”
Further Information
• Lucy Akhtar, Development Officer for ParentingEmail: [email protected]
• Tony Ivens, Fatherhood Development Officer,Email: [email protected]
Children in Wales, Tel: 029 20 342434
www.childreninwales.org.uk