Facilitating reflective, respectful & effective parenting groups “Bringing Up Great Kids” enabling wellbeing in children, families and communities

2 This session will cover: A bit on the program Model of training roll out across Australia A bit on evaluation Role of Communities for Children BUGK program for parents

Flexibility Exploring the material of the program can take as long or as short as you need. Change the order of the chapters Adapt the activities to suit families ….. Use own or different activities to present material Use as much or little of the complimentary resources available

Resources Thoughtful Parenting DVD BUGK CD Roms (Early Years) Mindful Parenting Connected Parenting Baby Booklet..I Need You A-Z www:bringingupgreatkids.org

The 6 chapters/lenses Messages from the past The Message centre Giving and receiving Messages The Messages of behaviour Messages about me Passing on Messages

Contents of each chapter Outline &Key Messages Pre-session Facilitator Reflection Preparation/ set-up/resources Welcome/reconnect STOP….PAUSE….PLAY Burning Issues Core Activities & Options Self-Care Reflective Journaling Storytime Summary Bringing Up Great Kids6

Reflection Bringing Up Great KidsPresentation Title7

Why messages ? Parents are invited to give consideration to the ways in which messages from their past might be impacting on their own parenting and to think about the messages they would like to pass on to their children Bringing Up Great Kids8

Definition of mindfulness Mindfulness can be defined ‘the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non- judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment to moment’ (Kabat Zinn, 1994). Bringing Up Great Kids9

Mindfulness Bringing Up Great Kids10

Stop…….pause…..play Bringing Up Great Kids11

Burning issues-mindful listening Bringing Up Great KidsPresentation Title12 In mindful listening …we listen with the sole purpose of helping the other person feel heard and accepted. ( Thich Naht Hahn –Planting Seeds –mindfulness for children 2011)

Storytime The reading of children’s stories to parents re-engages parents with their of having stories read or told to them and the ‘messages’ inherent in them. Bringing Up Great Kids13

My story as a parent …. Journal writing “assists parents to develop a coherent story or narrative about own childhood experiences” (Seigal, 2006) Bringing Up Great Kids14

What do parents say ………. “This program encouraged me to look within” “Where else do you get time to think about why you parent in the way you do?” “I feel calmer, more confident, less self-critical. I feel more in control rather than like things are spiralling out of control” Bringing Up Great Kids15

Evaluation Pre and post surveys for parents 6 month follow up for parents Facilitator observations and comments - after each session - at end of group 6 month follow up for facilitators still involved with families

Parent groups across Australia Parents of children with disabilities Parents involved with child protection and have access to children Parents whose children don’t live with them but have limited access Aboriginal parents Foster parents Parents in prison Separated parents in conflict situation with court Young parents and very young parents (12 to 15 years) Refugee parents Parents involved in domestic violence situations Groups that included homeless parents, parents just out of prison, parents on community orders.

Process ACF contacts CfC services across Australia Facilitate BUGK Training Invite expressions of interest to co facilitate a BUGK parent group with families in a variety of situations 16 BUGK parent groups were co facilitated and became the basis of the AIFS evaluation

Communities for Children Creating strong child friendly communities Communities for Children is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Communities for Children Bringing Up Great Kids training arrived in Adelaide Focus on Capacity building within the C4C activities Benefits of providing the training in the Onkaparinga region  Relationship building and collaboration amongst agencies  Upskilling of staff in a flexible and engaging program

Expression of interest Families SA were interested – Manager attended training Families were invited to attend: 1 couple and 4 single parents - children not living with them And their support workers – had not attended training

22 Outcomes for everyone Benefits of participating in the BUGK parent group in the south offered by ACF:  Workers increased their skills and knowledge in facilitating a BUGK group with parents  Increased relationships between the parents and the staff who mentor and support them  Increased relationships between the parents  Reported increase in capacity of parents in other areas

23 Everyone benefits …… Benefits of participating in the BUGK parent group in the south offered by ACF:  Workers continued the program with parents during the week during home visits  Families used aspects of the program during access visits  Workers and parents delivered aspects of the program  Children returned to families

Flexibility /Adaptability Strength of program Meets parents needs Keeps children safe Facilitators confident in using the material Positive outcomes for families

Contact details: Janine Carger