Empowering Families: A Collaborative Journey towards Community Support

From Community Mothers to Community Families a cross sectoral collaborative interagency journey

Origins and Development Origins and Development Built on reviewing and updating Community Mothers and aligned programmes Developed in Ireland in 1983 / Strong evidence base / at peak 17 communities 3,500 parents National Strategic Review 2019 Development Project completed in 2021: Best practice / international evidence Parents views / co-produced Stakeholder consultation / policy alignment National Community Families Oversight and Support Group - 2022 2

Methodology Methodology Future-orientated policy-focused prevention and early intervention initiative, where research, practice and policy intersected in the collaborative strategic planning and transformation of an evidenced based early childhood home visiting programme. Participatory action learning involving Collective iterative process Structured reviews, Consultative workshops, Participant (including parents) interviews, observations and feedback Continuous engagement and sustained commitment at national and local level was key to successful co-production 3

Community Families descriptor: Community Families is a community home visiting programme, which puts Parents first, empowering them through trusted relationships with a Home Visitor. It provides information and support and it builds friendships and connectivity in local communities Community Families vision: All Children should have the best start in life through: secure and trusted relationships with their Parents and Families; in safe and loving homes; within supportive communities; where their health, wellbeing and learning can thrive. 4

5

Local Involvement Became a supportive Community of Practice Developed the Community Families model using their expertise and experience in delivering Community Mothers Upskilled in latest theory and training to incorporate it into the model e.g. Infant Mental Health Trauma Informed Practice Developed Training and delivery materials Website and manual CRM system Incorporated Community Families principles and practices into their service 6

National Involvement National Involvement National Oversight and Support Group established co-chaired by Tusla and HSE Responsible for the oversight, implementation and development of the Community Families Programme. Supported the development of the model and the work of the sites Supported effective communication with all key stakeholders in the process. Advocates for Community Families at national and local level Protecting, sustaining and updating the ethos and core values of Community Families Supporting the integration of Community Families into current and future service delivery and developments both nationally and locally 7

Integrated with a wide range of key policies including: Sl intecare Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Healthy Ireland First 5 Strategy for Babies, Young Children and Their Families National Maternity Strategy / Women and Infants Health Programme Supporting Families National Model for Parent Support Services National Healthy Childhood Programme Tusla Parenting Support Strategy / Implementation Plan 2022-3 HSE Corporate Plan / National Service Plan 2022 Tusla Corporate Plan 8

Learning Find persistent hard working allies and champions 7 Sites KHF, CFI, NCI, ELI HSE, PHNs, Healthy Communities, Maternity Hospitals Tusla, ABC, CYPSCs, CFNs Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN) Home Visiting Alliance Develop infrastructures, and secure resources at national and local level Align with National Policy Slaintecare First Five National model of parenting support National approach to home visiting (Home Visiting Alliance & UNITES) Collaboratively persist and focus on your end goal supporting parents to enable our most vulnerable children to thrive

Next Steps 2023 - National Community Families Oversight and Support Group co-chaired by Tusla and HSE to support the transition of the Community Mothers Programme sites to Community Families and its continued roll out, quality assurance and future development. CRM system being rolled out through KHF & CFI NCI awarded contract to support the next stage Readiness assessment completed on 7 remaining sites Senior Implementation Specialist being recruited to support the implementation and roll out of the Community Families Programme 2024 Community Families launch and roll out 10

Acknowledgements Community Families was developed under the Community Mothers Programme Development Project (2020-2021) With funding from the Sl intecare Integration Fund, a private donor secured by the National College for Ireland and the Infant Development Fund of the Community Foundation for Ireland Under the auspices of the Community Mothers Programme Development Project Oversight Group with representation from the Health Service Executive, Tusla, the National College of Ireland and the Katharine Howard Foundation With huge input from the existing Community Mothers Programme (or equivalent) sites in Dublin Docklands, Kerry, Laois / Offaly, Limerick, Longford / Westmeath, Tipperary North and Tipperary South With the inclusion of the essential voices of parents attending these services With generous advice and guidance from a wide range of national and local stakeholders Under the direction and guidance of Susan Brocklesby, Project Consultant During a pandemic! 11