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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Regional capacity building workshop on men, caring and fatherhood: Engaging men as partners in healthier families

Neha Bhandari and Ravi Karkara - Save the Children Sweden, 2006

This report captures the discussions and activities from a workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal on 17-19 October 2005 on engaging men as caregivers. The report presents a background and rationale, the expectations and objectives of the workshop, and an overview of work being done to engage fathers both in the region as well as globally.

Study of the Responses by Faith-based Organizations to Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Geoff Foster, 2006

A study that looks at the response of faith-based organizations in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Uganda. The report contains statistical information, and details positive care practices to build on, and negative examples to avoid.

Scotland: National Care Standards. Childcare Agencies

Scottish Executive, 2006

A set of standards for agencies that provide child care/day care services within the family home e.g. nannies, child minders, and babysitters.

Scaling Up the Mentorship Program to Address the Psychosocial Problems of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Rwanda

Edward Kalisa, 2006

Outlines the results of World Vision Rwanda’s mentorship program for children in child-headed households and other OVC. Includes challenges and lessons learned.

From Faith to Action: Strengthening Family and Community Care Options for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Kerry Olson, Zanele Sibanda Knight, and Geoff Foster, 2006

A tool to encourage donors to fund community programs that keep children in family care, rather than simply funding orphanages. Describes the many strategies being used to invest in community-based care, and contains specific program examples.

The Eugene Declaration

Holt International Children's Services, 31 Dec 2005

Recognition of the crises affecting children and a commitment to improving the lives of children.

Alternative Care Workshop Group 1: Social Protection and strengthening Social Services for supporting families to care for their children

29 Nov 2005

This document presents notes from the Group 1 session of the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005, focused on Social Protection and strengthening Social Services for supporting families to care for their children.

Promising Practices in Community-Based Social Services in CEE/CIS/Baltics

Rebecca T. Davis, 2005

Provides a framework for analysis of community-based social welfare services and linkages with government structures. Includes analysis of alternative care provision, de-institutionalization, programming for children with disabilities, standards of care, and overall social welfare sector reform.

Cash and Vouchers in Emergencies

Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute , 2005

Examines the use of cash and vouchers to provide people with assistance in emergency situations

The Ethics of Needs Assessments in Disaster Situations: Ensuring that Your Needs Assessments Interventions Do Not Cause Harm

Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, 2005

Lists ethical “do’s and dont's” specific to Consultants/Advisors, Managers/Supervisors, and Field-Level Workers arranging and conducting Needs Assessments in disaster situations.