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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A support programme for caregivers of children with disabilities in Ghana: Understanding the impact on the wellbeing of caregivers

Maria Zuurmond, Gifty Nyante, Marjolein Baltussen, Janet Seeley, Jedidia Abanga, Tom Shakespeare, Martine Collumbien, Sarah Bernays - Child: care, health and development, 12 Aug 2018

This study explores the impact of a participatory training programme for caregivers delivered through a local support group, with a focus on understanding caregiver wellbeing.

Moderating Role of the Form of Maltreatment Experienced by Children on the Effectiveness of a Parent Training Program

Roxanne Sicotte, Marie-Josée Letarte, Sonia Hélie, Isabelle-Ann Leclair Mallette - Child Maltreatment, 31 Jul 2018

The study examines whether the form of maltreatment experienced by the child moderates the effects of a parent training program (PTP) on the probability that the child’s case will be closed.

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Country Care Review: Russian Federation

Better Care Network, 03 Jul 2018

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.

Parenting Knowledge among First-time Parents of Young Children

Jessica Dym Bartlett, Lina Guzman, and Maria A. Ramos-Olazagasti - Child Trends, 01 Jul 2018

This research-to-practice brief highlights findings from Child Trends’ study of first-time parents of young children (under age 3) and their knowledge about parenting and child development.

Study on Traditional Parenting and Child Care Practices in Zambia

Andrew Brudevold-Newman, Paula Dias, Jacqueline Jere Folotiya, Haatembo Mooya, Varsha Ranjit, Hannah Ring - American Institutes for Research, University of Zambia (UNZA), UNICEF, 01 Jul 2018

This project, designed to explore parenting practices across various regions within Zambia, aims to further advance ongoing efforts to support early childhood development (ECD) by informing parenting programmes intended to promote optimal child development.

Tools for Transformation: Building a Compassionate Child Welfare System - Recommendations from Foster Care Alumni

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), 01 Jul 2018

CCAI’s Foster Youth Internship Program® is a highly esteemed congressional internship for young adults who spent their formative years in the U.S. foster care system. In this annual policy report, the interns focus on subjects they are personally passionate about due to their experiences and understanding after living in foster care and make personal recommendations for improving the U.S. foster care system.

Family Care for Children with Disabilities: Practical Guidance for Frontline Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Elayn M. Sammon and Gwen Burchell - World Learning, Partnerships for Every Child, USAID, 14 Jun 2018

Family Care for Children with Disabilities: Practical Guidance for Frontline Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries was developed to help front-line personnel (social service workers and others) in low- and middle-income countries to work effectively with children with disabilities and their families.

Better Parenting Nigeria: Community Discussion Guide

Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children), Catholic Relief Services, 29 May 2018

The Better Parenting Nigeria Community Discussion Guide supplements the Better Parenting Nigeria Facilitator Manual to facilitate guided discussions and learning by parents to improve parenting knowledge, attitudes and skills.

Better Parenting Nigeria: Facilitator Manual

Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children), Catholic Relief Services, 29 May 2018

Better Parenting Nigeria is a parenting education curriculum whose goal is to build caregiver protective factors so that parents can provide better support to children.

Implementation of Reach Up early childhood parenting program: acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility in Brazil and Zimbabwe

Joanne A. Smith, Helen Baker‐Henningham, Alexandra Brentani, Rose Mugweni, Susan P. Walker - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 23 May 2018

This paper presents an evaluation of an early childhood parenting training package implemented in Brazil and Zimbabwe, called Reach Up, with the aim of providing an evidence‐based, adaptable program that is feasible for low‐resource settings.