Second report of the parenting support champions regional learning group

Abstract

This research is part of a study to examine the process and implementation of the Parenting Support Champions Project, which is one element of the Parenting Support and Parental Participation Work Package. This work is part of a wider programme of work to research and evaluate Tusla’s Development and Mainstreaming Programme for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) being undertaken by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre in the National University of Ireland Galway. This is the second report of the Parenting Support Champions (PSC) Regional Learning Groups (RLG). RLGs have been set up by Tusla - Child and Family Agency, to support PSCs in their role. The purpose of the first report was to outline the experiences of the PSCs who attended the PSC Regional Learning Groups, examining what respondents hoped to gain from the RLGs, whether participation in the RLG supported them to develop their role as a PSC, and whether knowledge gained from the RLG would be beneficial and applicable to practice work. This report, entitled Report of the Parenting Support Champions Regional Learning Group, is available in full on the Development and Mainstreaming page of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre website.1 The objective of this second report is to examine whether the aims of the RLGs are being achieved. The aims of the RLGs are to: • create opportunities for learning through peer engagement • build the capacity of the PSCs to support parenting by recognising best practice in parenting support • enhance parental participation practices • develop reflective practice by sharing pertinent information and resources (Tusla, 2016). This report has been compiled using questionnaire data completed by PSCs who attended the second round of the RLGs. It focuses specifically on perceptions of PSCs in relation to whether and how the RLGs have created opportunities for them to learn about parenting support and parental participation, and whether participation in the groups has added to their learning in these areas. Moreover, the focus is on whether and how participation in RLGs has improved the capacity of PSCs to promote parenting knowledge and to recognise and share best practice in parenting support and parental participation. The impact of participation in RLGs on the practice of PSCs, the practice of their colleagues, and the parents with whom they work are also considered.2non-peer-reviewe