Parent Resource Program

NACBCS National Conference July 2006

Luba Torban

September 2005

Building Resilience within Communities using a strengths based approach to practice:

Implication for Workers

Parent Resource Program

• Provides scholarships enabling entry into mainstream child care for economically and socially disadvantaged families

• Supports families through facilitation of effective staff/parent relationships

• Provides parenting programs• Fosters families’ capacity to effectively engage

with their children• Provides high quality developmentally

enhancing programs for children• Facilitates interagency and community

networking• Supports staff through staff development and

engagement in reflective practices• Monitors activities through action research

In 2000, SDN received funding for twelve months from the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (DFaCS) to establish an integrated family support and child care service delivery model. This program, known as The Waterloo Parent Resource Program (WPRP), operated during 2001 from a child care centre in Waterloo, Sydney. The success of the program resulted in further funding thus enabling expansion of the program to six SDN Child and Family Learning Centres.

The current Parent Resource Program (the Program) initially provides child care and support for families (who otherwise may not access child care) through a scholarship program. Under the scholarship program, families are able to access child care for $5.00 per day per child. The remainder of the child care fee is met through funding provided within the

Program. Once the child has enrolled in one of the six Child and Family Learning Centres, other support services then

become readily available to the family in a way that builds on each family’s strengths and enhances their parenting skills.

Parent Resource Program

“Integrated Family Systems

Model”

Child Learning Opportunities

Parenting styles and Instructional practices

Parenting supports

CHILDREN’Slearning and development

Participatory opportunities

Family/Community Supports and Resources

Family/ community activity settings

INTEGRATED FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL OF EARLY INTERVENTION(adapted from Dunst, 2000)

Child Learning Opportunities

Parenting styles and Instructional practices

Parenting supports

CHILDREN’Slearning and development

Participatory opportunities

Family/Community Supports and Resources

Family/ community activity settings

Child as focus of entry into early intervention

INTEGRATED FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL OF EARLY INTERVENTION(adapted from Dunst, 2000)

Child Learning Opportunities

Parenting styles and Instructional practices

Parenting supports

CHILDREN’Slearning and development

Participatory opportunities

Family/Community Supports and Resources

Family/ community activity settings

Interesting and engaging child experiences that are development-enhancing

Mainstream child care services as a single point of entry to developmental assessment and educational programs for children, parenting skill development and a network of community services Child as focus of

entry into early intervention

INTEGRATED FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL OF EARLY INTERVENTION(adapted from Dunst, 2000)

Child Learning Opportunities

Parenting styles and Instructional practices

Parenting supports

CHILDREN’Slearning and development

Participatory opportunities

Family/Community Supports and Resources

Family/ community activity settings

Interesting and engaging child experiences that are development-enhancing

Parent support, information, advice, guidance and referral provided by centre staff through formal (e.g. parenting sessions) and informal occasions to

• strengthen parenting knowledge/skills

• facilitate access to community services

• promote opportunities to enter preparation for work programs

• encourage family empowerment

Mainstream child care services as a single point of entry to developmental assessment and educational programs for children, parenting skill development and a network of community services Child as focus of

entry into early intervention

SDN Parent Resource Program - integrated family systems model of early intervention

Interagency networking

Parent Resource Program

“Sense of Place”

DOCS Regulations

Legal obligations OHS

QIAS

AdministrationNSW Curriculum Framework

Reporting to Head OfficeASPARD

Policies

My Sense of PlaceMy Sense of Place

PRPSENSE OF PLACE

Facilitating

changes

Connecting with community

Working with

agencies

Partnership with families availability

in crisis and in success

Advocating for children’s rights

Importance of early childhood as a field

Advocating for better provisions and respect for teachers

Professional Development opportunities with other professionals

Building strong families

Opportunities for parents to

network

Children

Staff and Families/Children

Interactions

Adhering toRegulations

Meaningful program and record

keeping

BeautifulEnvironments

No of Staff and

developmental

opportunities