Hard to Reach Parents

Who are they? How do social factors mediate parent presence/absence? SES SES Gender Gender Culture Culture Place/Location Place/Location

Who are the hard to reach parents? Isolation – physical or social related to mental health problems – not even the slightest connection to draw them into services Isolation – physical or social related to mental health problems – not even the slightest connection to draw them into services Isolation – geographic eg rural/remote Isolation – geographic eg rural/remote ESL – surface involvement (eg food) – overwhelming or frightening aspects of institutional involvement ESL – surface involvement (eg food) – overwhelming or frightening aspects of institutional involvement Overlay between SES & access to services – location of services inversely proportional to location of disadvantaged groups eg doctors, bus routes eg Gawler (no bus) Virginia, Angle Vale, OSullivans beach, Aldinga, Mallala, Two Wells Overlay between SES & access to services – location of services inversely proportional to location of disadvantaged groups eg doctors, bus routes eg Gawler (no bus) Virginia, Angle Vale, OSullivans beach, Aldinga, Mallala, Two Wells Contrasting example eg Kilburn a number of services but still have hard to reach parents – a lot of refugee families – settlement issues – so much to deal with that taking child to a centre not priority Contrasting example eg Kilburn a number of services but still have hard to reach parents – a lot of refugee families – settlement issues – so much to deal with that taking child to a centre not priority Access to childcare subsidy for refugee families depends on program Access to childcare subsidy for refugee families depends on program

Hard to reach cont. Complexity may keep parents away Complexity may keep parents away Not understanding financial arrangements Not understanding financial arrangements Not understanding timelines – eg had to exclude a family that was consistently late (10 minutes) – late fees mounting up Not understanding timelines – eg had to exclude a family that was consistently late (10 minutes) – late fees mounting up When fees went up children stopped coming – cost will keep parents away – also in after school care, parents leaving kids home rather than paying higher fees – not just low income parents When fees went up children stopped coming – cost will keep parents away – also in after school care, parents leaving kids home rather than paying higher fees – not just low income parents

Hard to reach cont. When you meet with a family and want to raise an issue and they bolt (eg finances, health) – they dont like talking about it and you lose them – sometimes if you want to keep the children in the service, you may decide not to raise the issue When you meet with a family and want to raise an issue and they bolt (eg finances, health) – they dont like talking about it and you lose them – sometimes if you want to keep the children in the service, you may decide not to raise the issue Not providing enough nappies can prompt excluding behaviour of some staff – an example of policy getting in the way of relationships – need to raise staff awareness Not providing enough nappies can prompt excluding behaviour of some staff – an example of policy getting in the way of relationships – need to raise staff awareness The parents that are working full-time, its harder for them to withdraw their children but the hard to reach may not be working full time or at all The parents that are working full-time, its harder for them to withdraw their children but the hard to reach may not be working full time or at all The child care bunny hop – they go to centres all around the area looking for respite care – no consistency for child or family The child care bunny hop – they go to centres all around the area looking for respite care – no consistency for child or family

Hard to reach cont. Different parenting skills – a parent who may have difficulty managing need the child to go into care Different parenting skills – a parent who may have difficulty managing need the child to go into care Postnatal depression can be a factor Postnatal depression can be a factor There are more successes than runners but runners are habitual There are more successes than runners but runners are habitual Deal promptly with issues – dont leave it – could be minimising abuse, suicide, depression – even if you risk the family leaving the service Deal promptly with issues – dont leave it – could be minimising abuse, suicide, depression – even if you risk the family leaving the service If confrontative early on, how does this relate to the development of rapport over time? If confrontative early on, how does this relate to the development of rapport over time? If you have a short period of time, need to devote intense work to the child If you have a short period of time, need to devote intense work to the child

Hard to reach Present parents – more fathers now Present parents – more fathers now Professional development on how to work with fathers Professional development on how to work with fathers Fathers are now expected to be involved – new need to reach Fathers are now expected to be involved – new need to reach Fatherhood workers & new body of knowledge about working with fathers Fatherhood workers & new body of knowledge about working with fathers Mothers also more interested in father involvement Mothers also more interested in father involvement But also male bashing – women bad-mouthing men But also male bashing – women bad-mouthing men Whenever men are getting involved with children – suspicion re abuse possibilities Whenever men are getting involved with children – suspicion re abuse possibilities Cultural values can impact on relationships between male and female workers & parents Cultural values can impact on relationships between male and female workers & parents Age can impact on relationships between male and female workers & parents Age can impact on relationships between male and female workers & parents Conversations are different – male exchange conversations – body contact eg back slapping, hand-shaking Conversations are different – male exchange conversations – body contact eg back slapping, hand-shaking

Hard to reach Working parents Working parents Angry parents Angry parents Grieving parents Grieving parents Families where there has been sexual abuse – fearful of the system Families where there has been sexual abuse – fearful of the system Families where there has been relationship breakdown and ongoing conflicts Families where there has been relationship breakdown and ongoing conflicts Drug and alcohol issues Drug and alcohol issues Educational and literacy factors Educational and literacy factors Guilty parents – stigma – secrets to keep Guilty parents – stigma – secrets to keep Hard to reach both parents at the same time – to get a team Hard to reach both parents at the same time – to get a team Single parents Single parents Grandparents Grandparents Foster parents Foster parents Adoptive parents Adoptive parents Parents who have had a history of negative experience with the service Parents who have had a history of negative experience with the service

Reading Parents and Children What meanings are generated by parent absence? What meanings are generated by parent absence? What meanings are generated by parent presence? What meanings are generated by parent presence? How does professional identity and practice mediate ideal parent ideas? How does professional identity and practice mediate ideal parent ideas?

Reflect on Parent Experiences Alexandras research findings on barriers Alexandras research findings on barriers Strategies – Local, user- driven and accountable Address barriers Obtain input, consultation, ownership Develop parent-centred supportive networks

What strategies do you use to reach parents or make your service easy to reach? Goals – reach for what? Goals – reach for what? Success stories? Success stories?

Strategies Initial contact – smile greeting, being available, first impressions really are important Initial contact – smile greeting, being available, first impressions really are important The frontline staff need to know clearly what they are allowed to say to families and what is not part of their role & giving them feedback about how well they performed and how they could do it differently – managers need to be aware of how clients are being treated The frontline staff need to know clearly what they are allowed to say to families and what is not part of their role & giving them feedback about how well they performed and how they could do it differently – managers need to be aware of how clients are being treated Training is important Training is important PDR – if people arent able to do that role they shouldnt be there PDR – if people arent able to do that role they shouldnt be there

Working within smaller communities, going in rather than waiting for them to come Working within smaller communities, going in rather than waiting for them to come Constantly showing we are available Constantly showing we are available Calling people to say hello and see how things are going Calling people to say hello and see how things are going Open times to come in Open times to come in Providing information through newsletters not just about service but what else Is happening in the community Providing information through newsletters not just about service but what else Is happening in the community

Parents taking children to visit services are identified by professionals and encouraged to go to a play group Parents taking children to visit services are identified by professionals and encouraged to go to a play group Attending with that person Attending with that person Continue encouraging and tell of benefits until that person is ready to continue Continue encouraging and tell of benefits until that person is ready to continue Taxi service for 2/3 weeks Taxi service for 2/3 weeks Setting up parent networks Setting up parent networks Organisation bus & walking buses – picking up people on the way Organisation bus & walking buses – picking up people on the way Catering for cultural needs of Aboriginal families eg an Aboriginal meeting place outside under shelter with campfire made by Aboriginal community Catering for cultural needs of Aboriginal families eg an Aboriginal meeting place outside under shelter with campfire made by Aboriginal community Accommodating transience so people can go away and come back Accommodating transience so people can go away and come back Talking with parents about how to support their children Talking with parents about how to support their children Accepting & valuing the uniqueness of each family Accepting & valuing the uniqueness of each family Have a purpose for parents – engaging them to use some of their skills and expertise at their level of want & need eg literacy bags for a school community Have a purpose for parents – engaging them to use some of their skills and expertise at their level of want & need eg literacy bags for a school community

Why do we want to reach parents? Why do we want to reach parents? So that child can have a successful learning experience So that child can have a successful learning experience Strategies - listen and hear the parents stories Strategies - listen and hear the parents stories Strength-based practices Strength-based practices Clear information eg pamphlets, whiteboard Clear information eg pamphlets, whiteboard Acts of kindness – eg make a sandwich Acts of kindness – eg make a sandwich Something special – events eg blokes night (play dough, construction, singing and dancing better than the mums) Something special – events eg blokes night (play dough, construction, singing and dancing better than the mums) Positive about the child – show you know and value them Positive about the child – show you know and value them Show you are valuing & catering for their childs needs Show you are valuing & catering for their childs needs Quality trained staff Quality trained staff Building links with home, kindy, school eg photo book Building links with home, kindy, school eg photo book Building and consulting community values – voices of parent, child & staff Building and consulting community values – voices of parent, child & staff Food – how that can be such a challenge for parents with the emphasis on healthy diet – snobbery in providing gimecky foods Food – how that can be such a challenge for parents with the emphasis on healthy diet – snobbery in providing gimecky foods Group of mums who didnt want to access mainstream playgroups – food was a big issue also brand clothes, pram etc. – supporting to move into mainstream – validating choices Group of mums who didnt want to access mainstream playgroups – food was a big issue also brand clothes, pram etc. – supporting to move into mainstream – validating choices

Hospitality encompasses much of what we want parents to experience Hospitality encompasses much of what we want parents to experience Parents want results – do they want relationships? Parents want results – do they want relationships? Breakfast bar – way to stand around and have a chat Breakfast bar – way to stand around and have a chat Feedback & complaints – positive spin – if we havent got the complaint we cant improve – naming as compliments and complaints – as part of induction inform parents they have the right to make complaints – give feedback quickly & follow up – ask Did anyone get back to you? Feedback & complaints – positive spin – if we havent got the complaint we cant improve – naming as compliments and complaints – as part of induction inform parents they have the right to make complaints – give feedback quickly & follow up – ask Did anyone get back to you? You can learn a lot more about the family from a complaint You can learn a lot more about the family from a complaint

Why reach parents? Sometimes in a community there is a history of attitudes in relation to the service – need to work with them to examine why they have those needs & develop strategies to address those concerns Sometimes in a community there is a history of attitudes in relation to the service – need to work with them to examine why they have those needs & develop strategies to address those concerns Also may have housekeeping reasons for contacting parents Also may have housekeeping reasons for contacting parents Early intervention is a reason for reaching parents Early intervention is a reason for reaching parents Creating an environment where people can feel safe and respected – modelling for parents - not so much about what you do but about how you are Creating an environment where people can feel safe and respected – modelling for parents - not so much about what you do but about how you are Being seen to be responsive to peoples needs, issues, who they are Being seen to be responsive to peoples needs, issues, who they are Building social networks Building social networks Sharing knowledge – families have a wealth of experience – professionals can learn a lot Sharing knowledge – families have a wealth of experience – professionals can learn a lot Preschool is the first educational setting – a primary position to be in – to encourage families to have high expectations of educational settings – to expect to be respected Preschool is the first educational setting – a primary position to be in – to encourage families to have high expectations of educational settings – to expect to be respected Example – in a country area a preschool had a 3,000 sq mile catchment, children coming in on buses, established a community play space not just for parents – regular working bees & people got caught up in the achievement – over a 2 year period – drew together families and as new people came in to the community they were drawn in. Example – in a country area a preschool had a 3,000 sq mile catchment, children coming in on buses, established a community play space not just for parents – regular working bees & people got caught up in the achievement – over a 2 year period – drew together families and as new people came in to the community they were drawn in.