What do Parent’s Want? An Exploratory assessment of the parenting needs and desires of parents with children 0-6 years residing in the Calgary Health Region

September 29, 2008

Tara DuhaneyHealth Promotion Coordinator, 3 Cheers

Context and Background

In 2007, 3 Cheers Parenting Initiatives Committee commissioned: a review of the literature that would identify evidence-based

programs and/or strategies that, if implemented, would increase the initiative's ability to address and support improved capacity for healthy parenting practices; and

an environmental scan that would identify present and future factors that might influence the direction and goals of the 3 Cheers Parenting Initiative Committee's actions towards improving the capacity for healthy parenting practices.

Environmental Scan Findings

Notable findings revealed that: Decisions around program planning for parents are often made with

limited knowledge or consideration for the actual needs and desires of the population being served

Few parenting programs have undergone formal or rigorous evaluation in Canada

While Calgary has a wide range of programs/services that support parents and families, most are targeted programs and not necessarily perceived as being available or accessible to all parents

There is a lack of information about the actual needs and desires of parents in the Calgary region (and Canada) with respect to parenting

To this end…

Report Recommendations

Recommendation 4:

“ a comprehensive, population level, community-based parental needs assessment should be undertaken to determine the specific parenting-related needs of parents residing within the Calgary region who have children aged 0 to 6 years”

Significance and Relevance

The first population-level, community-based study examining parents’ parenting needs and barriers with parents themselves

Findings will build on local, provincial, and national research, including: Early Years Study II, 2007 Dr. Wendy Lamont – Parenting Lit Review and Environmental Scan Invest In Kids National Surveys and Research ACCFCR: What We Know About Child Development: A Provincial

Benchmark Survey, 2007 ACCFCR: What We Know About Child Development: A Provincial

Benchmark Survey – 3 Cheers Report - 2008 3 Cheers Evaluations (Howard Research, DSRT) Healthy Attachment: An Overview and Environmental Scan, 2007

What is the purpose of the PNA?

Goal: To inform future strategies for promoting healthy parenting in the

Calgary Health Region

Objectives: To identify the information and delivery needs of parents and caregivers

with children 0-6 in the CHR To identify ways to increase the accessibility and cultural relevance of

parenting information and supports to specific parent populations To improve professional service delivery of appropriate parenting

supports and services by disseminating key findings about parents’ needs

What do we want to know?

1. What are the concerns, issues and barriers to accessing/utilizing parenting support services

2. What are the specific needs and interests of parents with children 0-6 years residing in the CHR?

3. What are the gaps in information and program delivery

4. How do parents want to receive parenting information/supports?

How is the information being gathered? Phase 1: Parent Focus Groups (Aug-Sept 2008)

Parent Sub-groups• Immigrant parents • Aboriginal parents (N=5)• Rural parents• Urban parents (N=10)

Phase 2: Mail Questionnaire (Oct.-Dec. 2008) Representative sample (N-1060) of parents selected from known lists of

parents who attend immunization visits within the CHR Questions designed to elicit:

• Parents’ information/support needs• Preferred method/format of receiving parenting education/support• Barriers to accessing/utilizing parenting information/help• How needs/barriers differ between and among different sub-groups of parents (i.e.,

moms vs. dads; working vs. stay-at-home; rural vs. urban)

Phase 1: Preliminary Themes

Parents want and value both formal and informal supports: Better post-partum care/follow-up Programs /resources/supports for fathers, Licensed child care Parent programs run by a qualified health professional Timely access to information (e.g., Health Link) Coordinated and consistent information

Topics/issues on which parents would like additional information or support included Developmental milestones, feeding, sleep, car seats Parenting beyond first year Support for fathers (during pregnancy and beyond) Support/Information for parental coping and well-being Acknowledgement and validation of different parenting styles Informal sources of support (chat groups, drop-in programs)

Phase 1: Preliminary Themes

Challenges/barriers to accessing parenting information or help: Programming: time, hours, cost, space, availability, format Information overload: “I feel like a hunter” Lack of awareness/knowledge Lack of system/structural support: family doctors, paediatricians, maternity

leave, transition back to work) How can we respond?

Offer more support in the community Flexible hours: evening, weekends More collaborative, coordinated and consistent provision of information and

support Programming (formal and informal) that caters to parental well-being

Dissemination Plan

Formal ‘launch’ of findings Written report and executive

summary Local and National Conferences Community presentations

Questions/Comments/Feedback?