Report on a program evaluation of a telephone assisted parenting support service for families living in isolated rural areas
Warren Cann
Victorian Parenting Centre, Melbourne VIC
Helen Rogers
Victorian Parenting Centre, Melbourne VIC
Greg Worley
Positive Parenting Telephone Service, Hume Region, Victoria,
PP: 201 - 207
Abstract
This is a brief report of an evaluation of a pilot project to deliver a telephone supported, self-directed parenting program to isolated families living in north eastern Victoria: The Family Intervention Service (Isolated Rural Project).
The aim of the project was to promote the competence and confidence of parents experiencing early difficulties in their relationship with their children to acquire skills known to promote the development, health, safety and emotional wellbeing of children. The service delivered a self-directed version of the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program). Parents were provided with a package of written resources supplemented by weekly brief telephone consultations with a practitioner over a period of ten weeks.
Results of analyses of pre and post program data are presented for 73 families who completed the intervention. Significant improvements were noted in child behaviour, parenting style, parental depression, anxiety, and stress, inter-parent conflict, and parent satisfaction and efficacy.
Keywords
parent training, isolated families, program evaluation, Triple P, telephone support, self-directed program
Article Text
Parenting support in rural areas
Families who live in rural and isolated areas worldwide encounter a unique set of barriers and disincentives to accessing medical, mental health and related support services (Louc & Quill, 2000). Compared to those who live in the major metropolitan centres of Australia, rural families are typically disadvantaged (De Costa, 2003). Family and parenting support services may be lacking altogether, especially specialist services, or may be available but require families to travel long distances (Murray & Keller, 1991 as cited by Connell, Sanders & Markie-Dadds, 1997).
The resultant time and financial burdens this places on families adds to the economic and social pressures already faced in rural communities. In addition to accessibility, there are other barriers to service access. The anonymity afforded to service users in the more populated metropolitan areas is harder to preserve in small rural communities. Concerns about lack of privacy, or the perceived risk of stigmatisation associated with involvement in family or parent support services, appear to be a particularly important factor in inhibiting service access.
Service providers also face significant challenges. It is notably difficult to attract and retain appropriately qualified and experienced staff in rural and remote areas (Lynn, 2000). Staff have fewer professional development opportunities and are often required to work in isolated circumstances with limited resources trying to deliver service models that are inadequate. Service models developed primarily in metropolitan areas are often difficult to implement successfully in rural contexts. Home based programs, for example, can be prohibitively expensive in country areas due to the time and cost of professional travel. Services designed to operate solely during the standard working week are often not sensitive or flexible enough to respond to the unique work and seasonal demands of rural industry and lifestyle (eg, farming).
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