Someone to talk to: young mothers' experiences of participating in a young parents support programme.

AIMS: To identify young parents' perceptions and experiences of a parenting support programme, run by a non-government organisation, which provided both community group-based, and one-on-one home visiting, support. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in one of the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Sydney, NSW; this is also an area with one of the highest percentage of births among young parents. Young parents were eligible to participate whether they attended one of the parenting groups and/or received professional home visiting through the young parents programme. Eighteen young women were interviewed, and a further ten participated in a focus group. Thematic analysis of the focus groups and interviews was undertaken. FINDINGS: Four themes were identified in the analysis: 'someone I know and trust', 'we just talk about anything and everything', 'doing the personal' and 'getting out and relaxing'. These themes were linked through the common thread of relationships; the relationships between themselves and other young mothers, and with the workers on the programme. The characteristics of the person with whom they had a relationship, the type of relationship, the content of their interactions and the benefits of these relationships were all important. CONCLUSIONS: This study is limited by the small sample size and the 'low risk' status of the young parents who engaged in the programme. This study demonstrated not only the importance for young parents of all forms of interaction, whether it is one-on-one, in a group or social networking; but most importantly, the benefits of having someone to talk to.

What works to engage young parents into services? Findings from an appreciative inquiry workshop.

AIM: Lack of engagement in parenting support programs by young parents has been identified previously in the literature. This paper reports an innovative strategy utilizing appreciative inquiry (AI) to involve service providers and young parents in identifying strategies to engage young parents in services and programs. METHODS: A one-day workshop was held involving service/program staff and young mothers in three phases of AI: discovery, dreaming, and delivery. A variety of activities were used to gather data from participants: Small group discussion, creative 'art work' development, and notes. RESULTS: Results identified strategies that would promote and sustain young parents' engagement in services/programs, such as supportive non-judgmental attitude of staff, having a 'one stop shop' for services, and meeting childcare and educational needs of parents. CONCLUSION: Through AI, factors were identified that promote and sustain engagement of young parents into parenting support programs, and the need to engage fathers was also recognized.