Parental participation: overall survey findings

Abstract

The Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) Programme is a comprehensive programme of early intervention and preventative work which is being undertaken by Tusla, Ireland’s Child and Family Agency, with the support of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (UCFRC), NUI Galway. This Programme is being implemented collaboratively by Tusla and its partner organisations by way of five main work streams (Tusla, 2017): Meitheal and Child and Family Support Networks; Parenting Support and Parental Participation; Children’s Participation; Public Awareness; and Commissioning. The findings presented in this report relate to the Parenting Support and Parental Participation programme of work. This is the second report examining the extent to which parental participation is currently embedded in Irish organisations providing parenting support. The purpose of the research is to ascertain levels of awareness about: Tusla’s programme of work to support parental participation, participatory practice in organisations that support parents, challenges to participatory practice, and the skill development needs of those working with parents. Answers provided through an online survey contribute to a follow-up study of parental participation practice within Tusla and Tusla partner organisations, informing in a formative way the development of activities in this area. The first report examining the extent to which parental participation is currently embedded in Irish organisations providing parenting support is available on the UCFRC PPFS Development and Mainstreaming Programme web page.