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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2019 UNGA Resolution on Follow-up to the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond

United Nations General Assembly Third Committee, 18 Dec 2019

The 2019 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on Follow-up to the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond can be found on pages 48-51 of the Report of the Third Committee on Social Development. The Resolution highlights a number of concerns and recommendations regarding children's care

Understanding ‘Successful Practice/s’ with Parents with Learning Difficulties when there are Concerns about Child Neglect: the Contribution of Social Practice Theory

Beth Tarleton & Danielle Turney - Child Indicators Research, 13 Dec 2019

Social practice theory (SPT) was used as a theoretical and analytical framework in a study which investigated ‘successful’ professional practices when working with parents with learning difficulties where there are concerns about child neglect.

Family Inclusive practice in child welfare: report of a Churchill Fellowship study tour

Jessica Cocks - Children Australia, 12 Dec 2019

Drawing on the findings of a Churchill Fellowship study tour, this article discusses the need to expand understanding of family engagement and, in particular, to implement Family Inclusive practice in Australian child welfare, both to increase reunification and to improve outcomes for children who do not return home.

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Parent mentoring relationships as a vehicle for reducing racial disparities: Experiences of child welfare-involved parents, mentors and professionals

Ruth Soffer-Elnekave, Wendy Haight, Bailey Jader - Children and Youth Services Review, 12 Dec 2019

This qualitative study examines the Minnesota One-Stop for Communities Parent Mentor Program (MPMP). African American parents previously involved in the child welfare system conceptualized and spearheaded this program for parents currently involved in the system to reduce the involvement of families of color in child welfare, provide support and build protective factors.

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The association of a paraprofessional home visiting intervention with lower child maltreatment rates in First Nation families in Canada: A population-based retrospective cohort study

Mariette Chartier, et al - Children and Youth Services Review, 09 Dec 2019

This article investigates the efficacy of the Families First Home Visiting (FFHV) program, which aims to enhance parenting skills and strengthen relationships between parents and their children.

Country Care Review: Portugal

Better Care Network, 09 Dec 2019

This country care review includes the care related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

What evidence is there that parenting interventions reduce child abuse and neglect among maltreating families? A systematic review

Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs, Michael Tarren-Sweeney - Developmental Child Welfare, 09 Dec 2019

The present review addressed the research question What evidence is there that parenting interventions conducted with parents who maltreat their children, reduce the incidence of further child maltreatment?

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Country Care Review: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Better Care Network , 05 Dec 2019

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Can better parenting be achieved through short prevention programs? The challenge of universal prevention through Strengthening Families Program 11–14

Lidia Sánchez‐Prieto, Carmen Orte, Lluís Ballester, Joan Amer - Child & Family Social Work, 04 Dec 2019

This study aims to assess possible changes in family and parental dynamics among families taking part in a short (6‐session) universal program.

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The thinking heart, the loving mind: 'The application of psychodrama in therapeutic reunification work with maltreated and neglected infants and their parents'

Patricia O'Rourke - Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association Journal, 01 Dec 2019

In this article, Patricia O'Rourke describes the way in which she applies psychodrama in her therapeutic reunification work with parents and babies in the child protection system in Australia.

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