A multi-year evaluation of a parent support centre.

Area of Science:

• Community Psychology
• Social Work
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• Parent support centres aim to enhance family well-being and community engagement.
• Evaluating such programs is crucial for understanding their impact and sustainability.
• Qualitative data offers in-depth insights into participant experiences and program dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a multi-year parent support centre project.
• To identify positive outcomes and areas for improvement.
• To understand the project's developmental process and implications for practice.

Main Methods:

• Multi-year project evaluation utilizing qualitative research methods.
• Individual interviews with project participants.
• Focus-group interviews with participants and workers.

Main Results:

• Positive changes observed in participants' social support, parenting skills, and self-esteem.
• High participant satisfaction with activities and programs.
• Successful development of indigenous leadership within the project.
• Challenges encountered in the ongoing recruitment of participants.

Conclusions:

• The parent support centre project demonstrated significant benefits for individual participants.
• Program satisfaction and leadership development were key successes.
• Participant recruitment requires strategic attention for long-term viability.
• Findings offer valuable implications for the design and implementation of similar support initiatives.