Parent Education Group
Our first Parent Education Group was be led by our two physios, Hannah and Catherine. It achieved its aims of reaching out to families of disabled children within the local communities of Mae Sot.
This project was curtailed beacuse of the impact of the Covid pandemic and has not yet been re-started.
In the event of us successfully recruiting a physio or OT to work full-time for us in Mae Sot, then this project will become a priority again.
Aims
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To provide a forum through which parents can gain knowledge about their child’s diagnosis.
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To help parents understand some of the basic treatment approaches, principles and evidence base regarding Physiotherapy/Occupational/Speech Therapy intervention.
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To give parents an opportunity to meet other parents who have a child with a disability.
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To enable parents with the knowledge and skills for which to educate others e.g. child’s siblings, wider family and community members.
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To provide a forum and support network for parents to help share their challenges and experiences of caring for a disabled child.
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To give parents the opportunity to help share ideas and strategies that assist them or their child in the caring process.
Projected Costs:
8000Baht per course
(£180; $225 US)
This project is important because of the social isolation of parents in their local community as they do not have the opportunity to meet each other as they are caring for their child without any respite. Parents of a child with a disability are shown to be at an increased risk of decline in mental health and socio-economic problems (Hyland 2016). Group parenting programmes have been shown to increase feelings around parenting efficacy (Hyland 2016). In the developing world, caregiver’s may be isolated in communities that hold negative attitudes and beliefs towards disability. Poverty and reduced economic support and limited access to information and sources of support for themselves and their child (can all increase their experience of isolation and sometimes, exclusion (UNICEF 2012). Evidence demonstrates that there are benefits from expanding information sources and condition-related education (Brouwer 2009). The family-centred service approach is widely accepted as the preferred method if supportive social networks are to be strengthened (Can Child 2016). Also, as successful therapy is dependent on parental compliance, increased parent knowledge from educational intervention may help with improved compliance with therapeutic intervention/treatment approaches (Kotrulja 2016)
Target Group
The targeted group of parents/carers is anticipated to number 15 -20; all of whom will be caring for children with a complex neuromotor disability (GMFCS 4 – 5). Each group of parents are invited to attend at least two education sessions 2-3 weeks apart with a planned follow-up refresher and reflection session a couple of months later.
Locations for the groups have been identified through our partner organisations and include Hsa Thoo Lei School, Charis Community Centre, Picturebook Guesthouse and Mingalar Church.