Healthy Start is an Early Childhood – Invest to Grow initiative, funded by the Australian Government under the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2005-2008.

Who are parents with Who are parents with learning difficulties?learning difficulties?

1.1. Previously institutionalized: now live in Previously institutionalized: now live in the community and have childrenthe community and have children

2.2. Never institutionalized: received Never institutionalized: received services for people labeled with services for people labeled with intellectual disability more or less intellectual disability more or less continuously… continuously…

3.3. Hidden majority: labeled while at school, Hidden majority: labeled while at school, but on leaving school, live in the but on leaving school, live in the community with no specialized supports. community with no specialized supports.

What barriers do they What barriers do they face?face?

Opposition to their child-bearingOpposition to their child-bearing Restricted learning opportunitiesRestricted learning opportunities Lack of resources: safe/suitable Lack of resources: safe/suitable

housing, adequate subsistencehousing, adequate subsistence Poor health/health carePoor health/health care

With appropriate With appropriate support…support…

Learning, adapting and overcoming Learning, adapting and overcoming parenting difficulties parenting difficulties

Creating safe and supportive home Creating safe and supportive home environmentsenvironments

Healthy Start GoalsHealthy Start Goals

Promoting a healthy start to life for young children of parents with learning difficulties

Supporting parents with learning difficulties with the challenging task of parenting

Building capacity across human service sectors to support parents with learning difficulties and promote a healthy start to life for their young children.

Healthy Start Healthy Start StrategyStrategy

1.1. Develop leadersDevelop leaders

2.2. Build active cross-disciplinary & Build active cross-disciplinary & interagency networks interagency networks

3.3. Promote research-informed practice Promote research-informed practice by investing knowledge and by investing knowledge and resourcesresources

4.4. Support local adaptation & Support local adaptation & meaningful application of knowledge meaningful application of knowledge in local context in local context

Developing Leaders & Developing Leaders & NetworksNetworks

Developing ‘learning hub’ leadersDeveloping ‘learning hub’ leaders Establishing interagency ‘learning hubs’ Establishing interagency ‘learning hubs’

in communities across the country in communities across the country – 69 learning hubs, involving69 learning hubs, involving– approx. 500 service agencies, andapprox. 500 service agencies, and– more than 1000 practitionersmore than 1000 practitioners

Learning hub members connected Learning hub members connected nationally via Listservnationally via Listserv

Spreading knowledge & Spreading knowledge & innovationinnovation

Healthy Start website & listservHealthy Start website & listserv On-line graduate course On-line graduate course Workshops in each state and territoryWorkshops in each state and territory

– Healthy & SafeHealthy & Safe. . – Parenting Young ChildrenParenting Young Children. .

Locally determined learning hub activitiesLocally determined learning hub activities

Take home messagesTake home messages

1.1. People with learning People with learning difficulties become parentsdifficulties become parents

2.2. There is now a substantial There is now a substantial knowledge-base about knowledge-base about supporting parents with supporting parents with learning difficultieslearning difficulties

3.3. You can access this You can access this knowledge-base by visiting knowledge-base by visiting the Healthy Start website, the Healthy Start website, www.healthystart.net.auwww.healthystart.net.au

Email: David.McConnell@ualberta.ca