Researching the Needs of Minority

FamiliesGill Wadsworth and

Katherine TaylorQA Research

NESS YH Regional Workshop 081004

Content

• Aims of the evaluation

• Proposed methods

• Findings

• Challenges and solutions

• Impact of findings on the programme

Aims of Evaluation

• To establish the needs of families with

children aged 0-4 years from the following groups:

– Families with children with a disability or special need– Asylum seeker families– Minority ethnic families– Traveller families

Planned Approach

• Mapping exercise

• Consult with families and professionals

• Qualitative methodology

• In-depth telephone interviews with professionals

• Focus groups with families from each of the four groups

Families with children with a disability or a special need: method

• 6 individual interviews with mothers of children

• 5 interviews with professionals

Families with children with a disability or a special need : findings

• Professionals identified the following needs» Places to share experiences / gain emotional support

» Access to transport

» Particular support required for teenage mothers

» Good multi-agency working to share information

• Professionals suggested that Sure Start could» Provide out of hours provision

» Provide transport services

» Offer support groups

» Promote services

Families with children with a disability or a special need : findings

• Parents identified the following barriers to accessing services

» Being stared at by other parents» Lack of understanding from some staff» Lack of transport

• Parents wanted Sure Start to» Help them to access community groups as well as

specialised groups» Ensure staff have greater understanding

Families with children with a disability or a special need : parents comments

‘I’m sure it’s something a lot of families with disabilities find that they have difficulties getting to services that other families use’

‘I do feel that some people look down on us like at playgroup if your child has problems and they keep on falling over or bumping into things some people make you feel like it’s your fault’

‘I’ve never heard of any childcare in this area. I would like some childcare occasionally but I just don’t know where to find it ,my family very occasionally look after my kids but they are scared of looking after my youngest son just in case he has a fit’

Asylum seeker families : methods

• 3 individual interviews with professionals

• 1 focus group with Turkish asylum seekers

• 2 individual interviews with Albanian asylum seekers

Asylum seeker families : findings

• Professionals identified the following barriers to engaging families

» Language barrier» Gaining trust

• Professionals identified the following needs for these families:

» Reducing social isolation» Improving access to leisure services and » Providing access to female interpreters

Asylum seeker families : findings

• Parents identified the following barriers to using services

» Racism in the local area» Lack of awareness of services available

• Parents wanted more information about» Local childcare facilities» Trips and events

Minority ethnic families : Methods

• 4 interviews with professionals

• Unable to complete interviews with families – small number of families in area not able to take part

Minority ethnic families : findings

• Professionals suggested that» The number of minority ethnic families in the programme

area is small

• Professionals identified the importance of the following

» Having staff from minority ethnic groups involved in service delivery

» Raising awareness of cultural diversity within the community

» Conducting outreach work to engage these families

» Ensuring transport is available for these groups

Traveller families : Methods

• 4 interviews with professionals

• 2 individual interviews with traveller parents

Traveller Families : Findings

• Professionals suggested that:» Referrals and outreach work are the best ways of engaging

with the traveller community

» New initiatives should be introduced through a trusted organisation

• Professionals identified key needs» Play needs

» Access to health and dental care

• Professionals suggested Sure Start could provide

» Play bus /Toy library

» Partnership working

» Outreach health services

Traveller Families : Findings

• Parents interviews identified the following issues :

» Had not accessed Sure Start services» Would use services if more traveller families

attended» Suggested word of mouth as the best way of

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Challenges and Solutions

• Timescale – honest and open with programme manger, interim report

• Focus group with parents with children with a disability or special need – individual interviews

• Focus group with traveller families – individual interviews accompanied by members of the traveller team

Outcomes of Evaluation

• Multi-cultural day

• Trips with asylum seeker families e.g. The Deep

• Support group for families with children with disabilities and special needs

• Sure Start now included on register of support available for special needs children in area

• Outreach to the traveller community