Nepean Area Informal Parent Discussion Group Project Louisa McKay- Bronte Child and Family Centre Mission Australia Karen van Woudenberg - Families First Community Program Officer Department of Community Services

Families First is a NSW government strategy to increase the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention services for families with children 0-8 years Families First is a NSW government strategy to increase the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention services for families with children 0-8 years It aims to support parents, carers and communities to raise healthy children It aims to support parents, carers and communities to raise healthy children It is a statewide strategy delivered by key human service agencies, with the Department of Community Services as the lead agency through the Communities Division It is a statewide strategy delivered by key human service agencies, with the Department of Community Services as the lead agency through the Communities Division

Healthier children and parents and better functioning families Healthier children and parents and better functioning families Children better prepared to learn when they start school Children better prepared to learn when they start school Reduction in conditions that lead to mental health problems in children Reduction in conditions that lead to mental health problems in children Improved recognition and early intervention for post natal depression and other mental health issues in parents with new babies Improved recognition and early intervention for post natal depression and other mental health issues in parents with new babies Greater parental participation in education and training Greater parental participation in education and training Communities in which people interact and are friendly places to bring up children Communities in which people interact and are friendly places to bring up children Reduction in the conditions that lead to child abuse and neglect Reduction in the conditions that lead to child abuse and neglect Reduction in juvenile and adult crime Reduction in juvenile and adult crime Families First Outcomes Framework New South Wales Data Report June 2004 p 2 Families First outcomes :-

Nepean Area incorporating Blue Mountains Penrith and Hawkesbury LGA’s Population 307,787 (2001) Families with children under 15yrs (47.2%)

Background Commissioned research into the needs of parents and carers in the Nepean Area in 2002 Commissioned research into the needs of parents and carers in the Nepean Area in 2002 Identified a number of projects which could enhance services for parents with young children Identified a number of projects which could enhance services for parents with young children

Families First projects developed in Nepean Area Early Intervention Family Workers Early Intervention Family Workers Strengthening Community Connections Projects in four priority communities Strengthening Community Connections Projects in four priority communities Transition to School Project Transition to School Project Young Parents Support Program Young Parents Support Program Service Network Project Service Network Project Area Health Early Childhood and Family Nurses Universal Home Visiting Program Area Health Early Childhood and Family Nurses Universal Home Visiting Program Learning and Development Project Learning and Development Project Informal Parent Discussion Groups Informal Parent Discussion Groups

Development of Informal Parent Discussion Group Project Research recommended a parenting education strategy that provided informal facilitated discussion activities in local neighbourhoods and where parents were eg workplaces, neighbourhood venues. Research recommended a parenting education strategy that provided informal facilitated discussion activities in local neighbourhoods and where parents were eg workplaces, neighbourhood venues. Two projects Blue Mountains and Penrith/ Hawkesbury Two projects Blue Mountains and Penrith/ Hawkesbury

Blue Mountains Experience Higher level of : Higher level of :  Formal parenting support service provision in Blue Mountains  Service network Challenge to access hard to reach families Challenge to access hard to reach families Focus on commuting parents, working parents and isolated communities Focus on commuting parents, working parents and isolated communities Parents on Track Parents on Track Play and Chat in Mt Victoria Play and Chat in Mt Victoria Family Bushwalk Family Bushwalk

Penrith/ Hawkesbury experience Less coordinated service network Less coordinated service network Lower levels of formal parent education provision Lower levels of formal parent education provision Fragmented family support service delivery Fragmented family support service delivery Larger population Larger population

Networking & partnerships with other organisations Networking & partnerships with other organisations Finding gaps in the community & meeting the need. Finding gaps in the community & meeting the need. Provision of strengths based programs that meet the needs of parents where they are at on their journey as a parent. Provision of strengths based programs that meet the needs of parents where they are at on their journey as a parent. Outcome based evaluation. Outcome based evaluation. Key Strategies

Sydney West Area Health Sydney West Area Health Neighbourhood Centres Neighbourhood Centres The Warehouse Youth Health Centre The Warehouse Youth Health Centre Centrelink Centrelink Department of Community Services Department of Community Services Preschools and Childcare Centres Preschools and Childcare Centres Kingswood TAFE Kingswood TAFE Panthers on the Prowl Panthers on the Prowl Networks and Partnerships Every program is provided in collaboration with other services.

More Partnerships Neighbourhood Centres Neighbourhood Centres Anglicare Anglicare Penrith Council Penrith Council Burnside Burnside Connecting Central Penrith Project Connecting Central Penrith Project Penrith Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project (PATSI) Penrith Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project (PATSI) Penrith Women’s Health Centre Penrith Women’s Health Centre Mamre Project Mamre Project

Find the Gaps & Meet the Need Find the Gaps & Meet the Need Conversations – Workers & local community Conversations – Workers & local community Consultations – Listen to people, surveys & keep service providers informed. Consultations – Listen to people, surveys & keep service providers informed. Connections – Reinforce the benefits of working together, be prepared to lead a project and also to be led. Connections – Reinforce the benefits of working together, be prepared to lead a project and also to be led. Commitment – Show respect & stick to your word Commitment – Show respect & stick to your word

Program Development Parents & carers determine what the program looks like. Parents & carers determine what the program looks like. Program is informal, non- threatening, relaxed and as unlike a classroom structure as possible. Program is informal, non- threatening, relaxed and as unlike a classroom structure as possible. Parents are encouraged to identify their strengths with their parenting. Parents are encouraged to identify their strengths with their parenting. Facilitator needs to be flexible and non-judgemental. Facilitator needs to be flexible and non-judgemental.

Families Targeted CALD ( Southern Sudanese) CALD ( Southern Sudanese) Fathers Fathers Aboriginal Aboriginal Young parents Young parents Women in gaol Women in gaol Working parents Working parents Isolated families Isolated families Economically disadvantaged families Economically disadvantaged families Foster Carer’s Foster Carer’s

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

Evaluation Performance is measured against project outcomes Performance is measured against project outcomes Increased parent care knowledge Increased parent care knowledge Increased parent carer confidence Increased parent carer confidence Improved access to learning Improved access to learning Increased parent carer local networks with other families Increased parent carer local networks with other families Increase ease of access to appropriate health and community services Increase ease of access to appropriate health and community services Evaluation is an ongoing process recorded as worker observations and parent reports Evaluation is an ongoing process recorded as worker observations and parent reports Outcomes are documented after every activity. Outcomes are documented after every activity.

Pre-natal discussion groups for young mums and their partners. Pre-natal discussion groups for young mums and their partners. Kids & Dads Day Kids & Dads Day Target young fathers Target young fathers Targeted activities for CALD Families Targeted activities for CALD Families Goals for the Future

Parents find it easier to raise, love and 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 developmentKnowledge and appreciation of child development Personal resources such as self esteem/being able to cope with stressPersonal resources such as self esteem/being able to cope with stress The support of extended family and social networks outside the familyThe support of extended family and social networks outside the family Good healthGood health Adequate income and housingAdequate income and housing A home that is safe and free from violenceA home that is safe and free from violence

The End