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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The Lost Ones: Emergency Care and Family Tracing for Children from Birth to Five Years

Marie de la Soudière, Jan Williamson, and Jacqueline Botte, 2005

Guidelines for the care of young children separated from their families in emergencies. Includes detailed information on prevention of separation, child registration and documentation, and family reunification.

The Promise of a Future: Strengthening Family and Community Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Kerry Olson, Ruth Messinger, Laura Sutherland, and Jennifer Astone , 2005

A brief document advocating for the strengthening and support of community based responses to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Romania: Minimum Standards for Child Day Care Centers

Romania National Authority for Child Protection and Adoption, 2005

Minimum standards for day care centers in Romania.

I Can Save: A Savings Program for Children in Primary School

Victoria Gonzalez-Rubio, 2005

This document highlights a children’s saving program in the state of Missouri, USA. The five-year initiative focuses on increasing financial knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as saving accounts, among children and parents. The end goal is to increase student engagement in post-secondary education and training.

Empowering and Healing Battered Women

Admira Foundation, 2005

Training manual for a three-day course (targeted at care workers) on domestic violence. Focus on empowering battered women to find safety and regain control.

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

World Vision HIV/AIDS Hope Initiative, 2005

Comprehensive toolkit and resource pack for mobilising community-led OVC care. Includes detailed resources for training home visitors.

Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies

United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005

Comprehensive guidelines for dealing with the planning, establishment, and coordination of multisectoral interventions to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

Early Childhood Development Kit: Guideline for Caregivers

UNICEF ECD Unit / ECD Emergency Task Force, Program Division, 2005

Guidelines for caregivers of children in emergency situations, with a focus on the role of play in childhood learning and development. Includes a comprehensive list of suggested activities.

Children in Institutional Care: The Status of their Rights and Protection in Sri Lanka

Save the Children Sri Lanka and Save the Children Canada, 31 Dec 2004

A situation analysis of children in institutional care that includes policy implications and key recommendations.

Children in Institutions: Prevention and Alternative Care: Final Report

Bragi Gudbrandsson, Working Group on Children at Risk in Care, Council of Europe, 19 May 2004

A comparative analysis of protection and care systems across Europe, focusing on the use of institutions, alternative forms of care placements, family support services, and the role of social workers in the process of child placement.