Parenting Support

Families will require support when faced with problems they are unable to overcome on their own. Ideally support should come from existing networks, such as extended family, religious leaders, and neighbours. Where such support is not available or sufficient, additional family and community services are required. Such services are particularly important for kinship, foster and adoptive caretakers, and child headed households in order to prevent separation and address abuse and exploitation of children. It is also vital for children affected by HIV/AIDS and armed conflict, and those children living on the street.

Parenting support services are typically provided by social and community paraprofessionals. They focus on the individual needs of a child or family, in order to address and overcome issues which may lead to family separation or harm to the child. Such services should be provided within the context of case planning, beginning with an assessment of the child and family situation. By assessing the need first, an appropriate set of services can be offered, such as day care provision, parenting support, household economic strengthening, or psychosocial referral.

Day care services are particularly important for caretakers who are overwhelmed as a result of ill health, cannot provide adaquate care because they need to work, or who are isolated within the community. It provides an excellent opportunity for children to socialise with others, and can offer additional protection and education.

Parenting support provides caretakers with an opportunity to talk about their difficulties, and learn additional techniques for meeting their child’s developmental and relationship needs. It can enable caretakers to cope with behavioural problems, and address abusive parenting techniques, thereby reducing the need for family separation and improving the incidence of successful family reunification.

The literature in this section contains information on family support programmes for vulnerable children, including day care and parenting support.

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Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: Findings from an exploratory qualitative study with practitioners and foster parents

Katelyn Blair, James Topitzes, Erin N Winkler, Cheryl B McNeil - Qualitative Social Work, 08 Apr 2020

This exploratory study examines practitioners’ and foster parents’ perceptions on use of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy in child welfare.

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Bringing men in from the margins: Father‐inclusive practices for the delivery of parenting interventions

Naomi Pfitzner, Cathy Humphreys, & Kelsey Hegarty - Child & Family Social Work, 07 Apr 2020

In this article, the authors draw on case study data from the Australian Baby Makes 3 (BM3) programme to explore factors that promote father engagement in parenting support programmes.

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Service providers' perceptions of families caring for children with disabilities in resource‐poor settings in South Africa

Gadija Khan, Dane Isaacs, Mokhantšo Gladys Makoae, Lorenza Logan Fluks, Tholang Mokhele, Zitha Mokomane - Child & Family Social Work, 06 Apr 2020

Through the lens of a care framework, the present study aims to explore service providers' perceptions of families caring for CWD in resource‐poor settings in South Africa.

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Mental health services receipt among caregivers in the child welfare system: A longitudinal analysis

Tyrone C. Cheng & Celia C. Lo - Children and Youth Services Review, 03 Apr 2020

This study intended to identify factors associated with receipt of mental health services by caregivers substantiated for maltreatment.

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Availability of Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Areas of High Foster Care Increases

Robin Ghertner, Emily Madden, and Gilbert Crouse - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , 01 Apr 2020

Parental opioid use disorder (OUD) is a risk factor for the maltreatment of children and placement into foster care. This brief explores the availability of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in U.S. counties experiencing different increases in foster care entry rates.

Children’s Social Care and Early Intervention Policy in England

Dan Anderberg, Christina Olympiou - CESifo Working Papers, 01 Apr 2020

This study explores the relationship between a key early intervention policy in England designed to support families with children up to the age of four and the rate at which children are taken into social care.

Parental engagement in child protection assessment practice: Voices from parents

Rafaela Lehtme & Karmen Toros - Children and Youth Services Review, 01 Apr 2020

This article describes the empirical results of perspectives and experiences of 11 parents’ engagement in child protection assessment practice through in-depth semi-structured interviews in one county in North Estonia.

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Country Care Review: Tuvalu

Better Care Network, 31 Mar 2020

This country care review includes the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Experiences of incorporating support for early childhood development into the Baby Friendly Community Initiative in rural Kenya

Teresa Mwoma, et al - Journal of the British Academy, 25 Mar 2020

This paper provides insights into the feasibility and lessons learned from rural Kenya in providing Care for Child Development (CCD) training and supporting its implementation alongside the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI).

Putting Family First: Developing an Evidence-Based Child Welfare Preventive Practice Model

Annie E. Casey Foundation, 20 Mar 2020

This paper from the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides guidance for state child welfare agencies on what to consider when developing a preventive practice model that aligns with the requirements of Family First, addresses the unique needs of families within local communities and ensures that selected programs and practices are feasible to implement with quality.