1 Developing relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse families. by Fay Hadley Project Manager Lady Gowrie Child Centre, Sydney

2 Aim of the project Improve the capacity of Children’s Services in Northern Sydney to provide appropriate cross cultural communication and support to parents and children from culturally and linguistically diverse families. Objectives - develop an evidence-based practical framework - engage providers to participate in the development of the framework

3 Background of project Formed reference group Formed reference group Developed project plan Developed project plan Completed draft literature review Completed draft literature review Mapped services and agencies Mapped services and agencies Developed methodology tools (interviews and questionnaires) Developed methodology tools (interviews and questionnaires) Engaged 16 children’s services & 8 agencies Engaged 16 children’s services & 8 agencies Collected and analysed data Collected and analysed data

4 Data included Questionnaires = 208 (20.33%) Questionnaires = 208 (20.33%) Family = 154 (18.2%) Family = 154 (18.2%) Staff = 40 (30.07%) Staff = 40 (30.07%) Agency = 14 (31.81%) Agency = 14 (31.81%) Interviews = 123 Interviews = 123 Parents’ accessing services = 39 Parents’ accessing services = 39 Staff = 29 Staff = 29 Children = 40 Children = 40 Agency = 4 Agency = 4 Parents not accessing services = 11 Parents not accessing services = 11

5 Outstanding tasks Develop framework/resource Develop framework/resource Validate framework with interested services and agencies Validate framework with interested services and agencies Trial and evaluate framework in 16 services and 8 agencies Trial and evaluate framework in 16 services and 8 agencies Adapt framework and submit to FF March 2007 Adapt framework and submit to FF March 2007

6 Building relationships - issues Families often want different things Families often want different things Some wishes of families contradicts early childhood philosophy (anti bias, language) Some wishes of families contradicts early childhood philosophy (anti bias, language) Language barriers (both families and staff) Language barriers (both families and staff) Child rearing differences Child rearing differences Lack of knowledge of services and there roles for families Lack of knowledge of services and there roles for families Services lack of knowledge/links with agencies who support families Services lack of knowledge/links with agencies who support families Time and resources Time and resources Communication channels may need to be addressed Communication channels may need to be addressed

7 Communication methods Communication methods staff utilizeCommunication methods parents utilize Parents & Children’s service staff Parents & Children’s service staff 18 meetings 144 Interpreters 1016 Phone 3747 Photos 153 Verbal Written

8 Better to teach them Australian culture better than my culture because we can teach them my culture at home (non user intv 1). Childcare need to focus on kids – teach them about different people are different colours. Kids are curious and teachers need to tell the kids in a kids way about nature and kids are different but this is OK/normal (non user intv 5). Sometimes they don’t want their children to get messy/dirty – they want their child to look like they’re well cared for and we are saying wear old clothes. But they want you to feel that they are a good parent and that they are providing and doing the best for their child (LDC A S Intv 1). Some look like centres from 20 years ago and don’t see it as there responsibility to have contact and develop a relationship with the families. They just want them to drop the child off and leave (Agency 7 S Intv 1).

9 Practical strategies #1 Build connections with families #1 Build connections with families Orientation Orientation Settling in Settling in Existing families Existing families Policies Policies Communication strategies Communication strategies #2 Assess staff training and service’s needs #2 Assess staff training and service’s needs #3 Provide opportunities for families to link #3 Provide opportunities for families to link # 4Build relationships with agencies # 4Build relationships with agencies

10 Area #1 Orientation/Enrolment Area0 Never occurs 1Sometimesoccurs2Mostlyoccurs3AlwaysoccursComments 1. Orientation: Does each family:  have a tour of the service?  meet the staff of the room their child will be in?  spend time talking about their child’s routine needs with the staff?  spend time talking about what outcomes they want for their child whilst at the service?  spend time talking about their values and beliefs and how this may impact on the program?  share their beliefs and cultural practices with the staff and discuss what components of their beliefs/practices they would like to see reflected in the program

11 Build connections - get to know families Organise time on enrolment Organise time on enrolment Listen to families - ask questions about their values/beliefs Listen to families - ask questions about their values/beliefs Adapt settling in procedure as needed Adapt settling in procedure as needed Be specific about what you want/need Be specific about what you want/need Seek information about their culture/country of origin Seek information about their culture/country of origin Follow up with regular discussions Follow up with regular discussions Provide translations and interpreters (access community people) Provide translations and interpreters (access community people) Be prepared for compromises Be prepared for compromises

12 The biggest factor in settling is reassuring the parents. She was great at reassuring me and she helped me to let go of my anxiety. She made us feel a part of the family (FDC A P1 intv). In this day and age of technology, it would be better if s were sent to parents that would like to receive information on the internet rather than reading notices (LDC A PQ3). First of all to be a very good listener and not to be judgemental. Parents have their likes and dislikes and we are here to serve them (LDC A S intv 2).

13 Assess staff training and service’s needs Assess service Assess service staff attitudes/roles staff attitudes/roles resources resources program program families accessing (cultural make ups) families accessing (cultural make ups) Staff development goals Staff development goals Provide inservices/readings to develop knowledge/skills Provide inservices/readings to develop knowledge/skills Visit other services Visit other services

14 Provide opportunities for families to link Introduce them to other families Introduce them to other families Provide orientation sessions Provide orientation sessions Have informal get togethers - afternoon tea, dinner Have informal get togethers - afternoon tea, dinner Utilise more established families Utilise more established families Provide a list of families and their contacts (confidentiality issue to address) Provide a list of families and their contacts (confidentiality issue to address) Parent helper – extend role Parent helper – extend role

15 Introduction by teachers would help. Organizing activities that would offer more interaction among parents and families (LDC A PQ5). Introduction by teachers would help. Organizing activities that would offer more interaction among parents and families (LDC A PQ5). Interested in relaxed gathering such as a BBQ atmosphere. Not into formal dinners/gathering (LDC A PQ19). Interested in relaxed gathering such as a BBQ atmosphere. Not into formal dinners/gathering (LDC A PQ19).

16 Build relationships with key agencies Connect with your community - who’s supporting families? Connect with your community - who’s supporting families? Make contact - develop a reciprocal relationship Make contact - develop a reciprocal relationship Attend inter-agency meetings Attend inter-agency meetings Utilise technology - s/websites Utilise technology - s/websites

17 The staff are part of the community – so we feel connected (LDC A S intv 1) The staff are part of the community – so we feel connected (LDC A S intv 1) It is rare for staff in services to attend our at risk forums. It is too expensive as they have to pay for relief staff. But we want them to come and make links with them (agency 2, S intv 1). It is rare for staff in services to attend our at risk forums. It is too expensive as they have to pay for relief staff. But we want them to come and make links with them (agency 2, S intv 1).

18 Summing up Attitudes are powerful - it is in your hands to help families feel welcome. Attitudes are powerful - it is in your hands to help families feel welcome. Actions speak louder than words. Actions speak louder than words. With all these kinds of issues I guess it is an acceptance and us not judging them. There is no right or wrong way of doing things (LDC A S Intv 1) With all these kinds of issues I guess it is an acceptance and us not judging them. There is no right or wrong way of doing things (LDC A S Intv 1)

19 My contacts Fay Hadley Phone: (Tues - Thurs) Mobile: