Giving Voices and Providing Skills to Families in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities through a Productive Parenting Program

Abstract

FAMILIES FROM CULTURALLY AND linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and disadvantaged communities, particularly those with young children, may be more vulnerable to experiencing multiple and complex life problems and hence benefit from community resources that support their everyday needs, in particular their parenting. This study reports on an inclusive model of a community-based parenting program, which aimed to support CALD parents to establish and maintain positive relationships and guide their children's learning and development. Seventeen families from a community playgroup in inner city Melbourne participated in a five-session Early Years Productive Parenting Program (EYPPP). Program evaluation data suggests that a flexible-delivery parenting program such as the EYPPP has the potential to strengthen productive coping capacities in families and in doing so contribute to the overall wellbeing of young children.