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Beatrice ogutu ICS Africa Regional Program Manager, Child Protection Gold Rock Park, Mombasa Road next to Turfsteel complex P.O Box 13892 - 00800,Nairobi, Kenya
Offi ce: +254 (20) 206 30 15 / 17 / 18Offi ce mobile + 254 731682596 / 682598Mobile: + 254 733 790 335 Email: [email protected]: beatriceogutu
Maaike StolteICS Program Manager Smallepad 32, 3811 MG AmersfoortThe Netherlands
Offi ce: + 31 33 303 0250 Mobile: + 31 6 424 026 04 Email: [email protected]: maaike.stolte
Check our website for all our activities: www.ics.nl
SKILLFUL PARENTING
IN AN AFRICAN CONTEXT
groups and/or savings groups in Kenya and Tanzania. Parent groups usually consist of 20 members, who select 3 representatives to organise follow-through of parent peer groups with support of CBO’s. Each par-ent support group is organised following its specifi c possibilities and preferences. The CBO will assist in getting expert information when the group identifi es new topics.
# A crucial factor in the success of the program is the quality of facilitation, so ICS provides training of facili-tators throughout Kenya and Tanzania to effectively deliver the skillful parenting program in their commu-nities. Organizations that are interested to integrate skillful parenting in their programs can contact ICS about this training service.
$ ICS seeks partnerships with key actors on parenting in Kenya and Tanzania to ensure knowledge on Skillful parenting becomes embedded in the African society on the long-term.
These strategies are constantly evolving as ICS is always looking for new innovative partnerships and opportunities to reach out to more parents with skillful parenting in (and outside) of Kenya and Tanzania.
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Skillful parenting
ICS (Investing in Children and their Societies) strives towards a better future for children in rural Africa and Asia. Through
its projects and programs, it builds on a sustainable growth in welfare and wellbeing by simultaneously investing in economic and social opportunities and needs. The central building blocks of the work of ICS are social business, child protection and skillful parenting.
ICS changes the lives of children living in poor rural areas by enhancing the parental skills of their caregivers. Following the recommendations of a UN study on violence against children (Pinheiro, P.S., The United Nations Study on Violence against Children, 2006, Geneva), ICS believes that parents need to feel the ‘Power to Parent’ to change the future of their children in a positive way. By working with them on how to become a better parent, the Skillful Parenting Approach of ICS contributes to the prevention of child abuse, neglect and family disintegration. Skillful Parenting is embedded in a larger Child Protection Program, working with three
target groups: (1) children, (2) parents / caretakers and (3) schools / institutions. Through this program, ICS creates a safe environment where children can grow up to their best potential.
The behaviour change model regarding Skillful Parenting (figure 1) is based upon a positive approach to parenting, and the support towards parents to be critical and aware about their parenting role. Furthermore, it is built upon the evidence based understanding that change will only take place if parents are convinced of the need for change and of their capacity to change. In the ICS model, both internal and external factors are being analyzed and discussed. In the development of the model ICS cooperated with Proud2Be (www.proud2b.org) and A+B=3 (www.AandBmake3.com). ICS will continue to cooperate with other organizations in development of other relevant modules.
Under the guidance of professional facilitators, skillful parenting is provided to parent peer groups, consisting of fathers, mothers and other caregivers. The facilitators
addresses eight basic parenting topics (figure 2) in different sessions geared towards providing parents with basic knowledge and opportunities for social comparison and joint reflection. The exact number and content of the sessions is tailored to the characteristics, needs and interest of each specific group of parents.
ICS believes in the power of combining different interventions that address the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. The work with parent peer groups is combined with wider community awareness-raising campaigns and individual follow-up. Furthermore ICS always seeks opportunities to embed skillful parenting in wider programs, like efforts on child protection systems building, prevention of violence and economic strengthening of families through the ICS Social Business interventions.
Parenting and Childhood are strongly influenced by culture, history and other contextual factors, so the ICS skillful parenting method does not preach the best way to parenting. It does not want to tell parents “this is how you have to do it” but rather wants to help parents in their task of raising children in a pluralistic and changing
society by providing them with the knowledge and skills to choose what works best for them and their family. The program specifically and unequivocally recognizes and respects each parent’s right to set his/her own norms and standards to raise their own children in the way that is appropriate for them.
implementationICS uses a multitude of strategies to implement skillful parenting:
! Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) – To be able to reach out to a community on a larger scale, ICS has experienced that working through a Community Based Organization (CBO) has the most impact. CBO’s often have a longer standing presence in a community and therefore are able to provide long term support and thus create sustainable change. ICS and its partners also work with ECD centres, Adult Literacy Programs and School and Youth Clubs as entry point.
@ Parent Peer Groups and Representatives – In the im-plementation of Skillful Parenting, parent peer groups are organised from existing groups, like farmer
Translate to local
situationParent PeerGroups (20)
Community Based Organization (CBO)
Representative (3)
local leadership/government
Basic Skillful Parenting Modules
p
Roles & responsibilities Self esteem
Values
Positive discipline
Family relations
and communi-cation
Anger & Conflict
management in the family
Child protection
Family budgeting
How our Skillful parenting approacH workS
Attitudes
Current parenting based
on culteral religious &
societal context
External factors;
community leaders and
i.e. education actors
Skillful parenting
(changed behaviour)
Awareness Raising
campaigns
Knowledge on skillful
parenting
Social comparison and
joint reflection
Willingness
Intention to change
Belief in self-efficacy
figure 1
Skills development topics on: Positive
discipline, Family relations and
communication, Anger & Conflict
management, Child protection,
Family budgeting
Parenting peer groups
& Thematic modules:
Roles & responsibilities,
Self esteem, Values
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