1. Healthy Start is an Early Childhood – Invest to Grow initiative, funded by the Australian Government under the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2005-2008.

2. Who are parents with learning difficulties? 1. Previously institutionalized: now live in the community and have children 2. Never institutionalized: received services for people labeled with intellectual disability more or less continuously… 3. Hidden majority: labeled while at school, but on leaving school, live in the community with no specialized supports.

3. What barriers do they face? Opposition to their child-bearing Opposition to their child-bearing Restricted learning opportunities Restricted learning opportunities Lack of resources: safe/suitable housing, adequate subsistence Lack of resources: safe/suitable housing, adequate subsistence Poor health/health care Poor health/health care

4. With appropriate support… Learning, adapting and overcoming parenting difficulties Creating safe and supportive home environments

5. Healthy Start Goals Promoting a healthy start to life for young children of parents with learning difficulties Supporting parents with learning difficulties with the challenging task of parenting Building capacity across human service sectors to support parents with learning difficulties and promote a healthy start to life for their young children.

6. Healthy Start Strategy 1. Develop leaders 2. Build active cross-disciplinary & interagency networks 3. Promote research-informed practice by investing knowledge and resources 4. Support local adaptation & meaningful application of knowledge in local context

7. Developing Leaders & Networks Developing ‘learning hub’ leaders Developing ‘learning hub’ leaders Establishing interagency ‘learning hubs’ in communities across the country Establishing interagency ‘learning hubs’ in communities across the country –69 learning hubs, involving –approx. 500 service agencies, and –more than 1000 practitioners Learning hub members connected nationally via Listserv Learning hub members connected nationally via Listserv

8. Spreading knowledge & innovation Healthy Start website & listserv Healthy Start website & listserv On-line graduate course On-line graduate course Workshops in each state and territory Workshops in each state and territory –Healthy & Safe. –Parenting Young Children. Locally determined learning hub activities Locally determined learning hub activities

10. Take home messages 1. People with learning difficulties become parents 2. There is now a substantial knowledge-base about supporting parents with learning difficulties 3. You can access this knowledge-base by visiting the Healthy Start website, www.healthystart.net.au

11. Email: David.McConnell@ualberta.ca