Group Work - The Scaffolding: A guide for practitioners facilitating groups for parents
There are many parenting packages and trainings available with which to form the content of parenting group sessions. Impressive work is already underway in order to train and support practitioners using various packages. However, at this time, what is missing is an accessible, in-depth discussion of the psychological processes that influence the delivery of parenting groups, especially when considering those group members who have been labelled as ‘hard to reach’ parents.
The guide was developed by Annie Waldsax and Dorsey Precht in response to this deficit. It may be an aide-memoir, an initial introduction, or a discussion piece for the development of group work via Children’s Centres, schools and voluntary or statutory services.
Staff within these settings may be starting to deliver a parenting package without having had previous group work experience. This guide can provide tools for supporting a practitioner’s first experience facilitating a group.
The promotional letter below describes the guide, and there is a downloadable form for ordering a copy of the document which includes a CD with print licensing.
The guide is free to practitioners delivering group work in Northamptonshire.
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- Fun and Families - The Centre for Fun and Families is committed to promoting the welfare of families by supporting those experiencing behavioural and communication difficulties.
- Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities - The Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities parent education programme is a community based programme specifically designed to promote some of the protective factors associated with 'good parenting' (developing close and warm relationships between parents and children; using methods of discipline that support self-discipline in children; fostering self-esteem of children; developing strategies to deal with risky situations; managing anger).
At the same time SFSC deals with the factors in parenting that are associated with increased risk (inconsistent parenting; harsh discipline in an overly critical environment; limited supervision; isolation and lack of knowledge of community resources).
Importantly, the SFSC approach emphasises that parenting is impacted by the local environment (for example the availability of good schools) and that parents should play an active role in shaping this environment by engaging with community resources.
- Triple P - stands for the Positive Parenting Program. Triple P is a unique, multilevel family intervention program for the prevention and treatment of behavioural and emotional problems in preadolescent children.
- The Incredible Years - Professor Webster-Stratton, at the University of Washington, Seattle has developed this series over the past 30 years. It comprises three linked programmes for children, teachers, and parents. All the programmes have been rigorously researched using randomised controlled group studies and have demonstrated positive results replicated by independent researchers.
- Positive Parenting is a registered charity which believes that good family life depends on confident parents. Their aim is to make training and support available to all parents within their locality. Over 4000 parents a year attend parenting workshops and courses using their resources or teams.
- The Mellow Parenting Programme aims to empower parents who may themselves have experienced very adverse patterns of parenting, to find better ways of relating to their children. The programme is focused on families with children under 5 who are experiencing relationship problems with their children.
For further details contact
Rosemary Mackenzie
ACPP, Unit 33
Six Harmony Row
Glasgow
G51 3BA
0141 445 4340