parent advocacy evolution
who is involved?
The impetus for peer parental advocacy originated from the Camden Conversations process. Tim Fisher, a relational activist, worked with peer advocates in Camden, such as Kar-Man, who have been trained in child protection advocacy. Clive Diaz from CASCADE at Cardiff University assisted in researching, understanding, and developing the advocacy program.
what did we do?
Under the management of Tim Fisher and in collaboration with the community and professionals in Camden, the first Peer Advocacy program of its kind in the UK was established. Peer Parent Advocates are parents with lived experience who return to help guide parents through the Child Protection process. The aim is to ensure good communication between social workers and parents. As well as reassurance for families during a challenging experience. It draws comparison with other international examples such as the "Rise initiative" in New York City. Dr Clive Diaz closely collaborated with relational activists in Camden to conduct a realist review of parent advocacy in the area, which has been completed (Diaz et al., 2023).
Link to research:
Final_Protocol_Cardiff_Spark (whatworks-csc.org.uk)
Diaz et al. (2023) found that PPA programs can facilitate systems transformation at three levels: individual, interpersonal, and institutional.
what happened?
The impact of Peer Advocacy has been profound, giving parents a voice in the child protection system and shifting the balance of power. By providing support from someone with similar experiences, Peer Advocates have helped parents feel heard, understood, and empowered, leading to more positive outcomes for families. These include improved decision-making, better relationships with local authorities, and increased agency and control. They also provide an example of parents who have lived through that experience and returned to help others.
Peer Advocacy has been a game-changer for families in the child protection system, creating a more inclusive, effective, and compassionate system that better serves children and families' needs.
The approach taken in Camden received specific recognition in the recent government publication on Children's Social Care Reform. With Peer Parental Advocacy playing a key role in ongoing consultation, it appears to be a significant part of the future of social care.
Quote from Stable Homes, Built on Love: Implementation Strategy and Consultation, Children's Social Care Reform 2023:
"Camden delivers services close to communities, with much of their offer provided by community services and a Family Advisory Board ensuring that people with lived experience shape the help they receive."
Clive and his team are looking to expand research on different Local Authorities where the culture of community involvement differs from Camden, which has a long-established relationship with the community and a commitment to relational activism. They are undertaking research in Wales, where government funding is sponsoring a different model of Parental Advocacy.
Link to the publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1133537/Children_s_social_care_stable_homes_consultation_February_2023.pdf