Family and parenting support are services that support children within families. Examples of intervention range from information or helplines to parents on children’s development and upbringing, informal peer support groups of parents and families to more complex training and support programmes.
Family and parenting support can dramatically improve children’s outcomes by improving parent’s confidence and overall well-being. Against a backdrop of public spending cuts, it is however important that policies and practice build on what works and constantly look to improve through evidence base and learning.
Leading children’s experts from across Europe met in Belfast (Wednesday 30 May to Friday 1 June 2012) to participate in a high level seminar on “Early Intervention and Prevention in Family Support” organised by Eurochild, Europe’s largest umbrella network on children’s rights and welfare, with the support of Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), the regional umbrella body for the children’s sector in Northern Ireland on improving the quality of life of children and young people. The seminar presented an unprecedented opportunity to share good practice examples from Northern Ireland, Wales, Poland and Bulgaria, and learn from the wealth of experience they will bring to the debate. A particular focus was given to innovation in the field and the potential to replicate experiences elsewhere.
The synthesis report summarises the key issues and insights gained from the discussions and makes observations and recommendations that have taken into account contributions from seminar delegates.
