a project of in partnership with Creating A Parent –Led Support Group Model Responsive To Participant Needs TinkerToys vs Tonka Trucks:

Presenters Martha de la Torre For The Child – Support Group Facilitator Fran Goldfarb, MA, MCHES, CPSP CII – PSCLAC Training Lead Johanna Rubio, BS For The Child – PSCLAC Coordinator Nancy Watson, MSW First 5 LA – Program Officer

Peer Support for Parents Project First 5 LA 30 month project Develop 100 support groups in Los Angeles County 20 per Supervisorial District Responsive to Community Need Parent Led Support Groups

Los Angeles County 10,017,068 people (2013) Minority Majority Community 48.3% Latino 27.2% White (non-Latino) 46% speak English as their primary language Different Ways of Dividing Services Service Planning Area (SPA) School Districts Supervisorial Districts Catchment Areas

PSCLAC Goals Increase social connectedness of parents in Los Angeles County Increase parents' knowledge, confidence and efficacy in parenting skills Greater parent awareness of opportunities for parent education 6

Project Structure CII District 1 Weingart East LA YMCA 20 Support Groups District 2 Para Los Ninos 20 Support Groups District 3 Family Focus Resource Center 20 Support Groups District 4 For The Child 20 Support Groups District 5 Parent’s Place Family Resource Center 20 Support Groups Partners: FRCNLAC PFCC Partners USC UCEDD CHLA

Different Districts Recommend Different Profiles This is the starting point. The final group structure is determined by the participants. DistrictODCurriculum FrequencyLengthTimeSpeakers# of Sessions FrequencyLengthTimeTime for networking # of Sessions 11x week60 minWeekday evenings Portion of the meeting Ongoing1xweek60 minWeekday afternoons 30 min8 22x month90 minMid-morningPortion of the meeting Ongoing1 x week90 minAfternoons30 minDetermined by topic 31x month120 minAfternoonPortionOngoing1xweek120 minEvening30-45 min6-8 session 41x week60 minEarly evenings 1/8-14 meeting Ongoing1x week90 minLate afternoon 30 minBased on evidence based curriculum used 51x week90 minEveningGroup should decide Based on group 1x week min MorningBeginning of session 10 weeks is too long

Values The content and structure of the support group rests with the group. Participation should be voluntary. Support group facilitators should be “of the community” not just in the community. Flexibility is key. It is important to have groups for fathers.

Tinker Toys vs. Tonka Trucks Flexible/Creative Responsive to Participants Expandable Builds Cohesion/Consensus Skills Requires more facilitator skill/training/supervision Harder to evaluate Rigid Respectful of Participants Not Expandable Either meets needs of the participants or it doesn’t Easier to facilitate Easier to evaluate a project of

Tonka Truck Approach 8 weeks 90 minutes 1 x month 2 speakers Breastfeeding Nutrition Sleep Self-Care Co-Parenting Getting Baby on a Schedule Communicating with your doctor a project of

The Tinker Toy Approach a project of

Many different models can be made… a project of with the same components

Components = Curriculum = Open Discussion = Speakers ContentStructure = Frequency = Length = Time/Day = Duration a project of

Topic and Type Type – an overall category for the group, e.g. Teen parents, Special Needs, etc. Topics – areas of interest that might be used in any groups. Type Topics 15

Topic and Type Topics The same topic may be discussed in different types support group Support groups may discuss several different topics 16

Topics and Types Nurturing Parents Nurturing Babies Nurturing Toddlers Nurturing Preschoolers Special Needs Self-Care Preparing for School Behavior Challenges Young Parents/Young Children Men Nurturing Children 17

Topics Behavior Challenges and Discipline Breastfeeding Domestic Violence (DV) Family Life Financial Literacy Healthcare Helping Your Child Be Successful At School Job Preparation/Issues Learning To Interact With Your Child Nutrition Resources Safety/Crime Self-Care Sleep Understanding Developmental Milestones 18

New Baby Focus Breast feeding Sleep ongoing Breast feeding 60 minutes AM 1 x month a project of Breast feeding Nutrition Schedule Sleep Breast feeding 6-7 PM Example 1 Example 2 1 x week 90 minutes 9-10:30 AM 4 weeks

Support Group Facilitators 3-Day Training Observations Monthly Reflective Practice Supervision All Facilitator Meetings

The Funder’s Perspective Original vision? How PSCLAC differs? What was required to support the new model? What do other funders and applying agencies need to know about establishing a responsive support group project in their community?

The CBO Perspective Why were you interested in participating in PSCLAC? What are some of the highlights? What are some of the challenges? What do you think other CBOs need to know about establishing support groups in their community?

The Facilitator’s Perspective Why were you interested in participating in PSCLAC? Is PSCLAC different from other support groups you have participated in/facilitated? If so, how? What are some of the highlights? what are some of the challenges? What do you think other facilitators need to know about facilitating support groups in their community?

Key Informant Interview Activity Answer these Key Informant Questions for your community.

Contacts Martha de la Torre Fran Goldfarb, MA, MCHES, CPSP Johanna Rubio, BS Nancy Watson, MSW