Race Equality Foundation - Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities

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Frequently asked questions

• How can I become a SFSC Facilitator?
• How can I get hold of the facilitator manual to be able to deliver programmes?
• What does the training allow me to do?
• How long do SFSC sessions with parents last?
  
• The training is very expensive, what do I get for my money?
• I am very busy and cannot commit to 5 days training, is there a short course I can do?
• Can I deliver programmes on my own?
• I have many years’ experience in parenting education, why do I need to co-facilitate?
• Can Race Equality Foundation give funding to deliver programmes?
• I have done the training and want to start delivering programmes, what do I do now?
• I am having difficulty recruiting parents for a programme, can you help with this?
• Do you have promotional material that we can use to promote the programme?
• Are we able to use the REF logo on promotional/publicity material to promote the Programme?
• What is a good number of parents to start a programme with?
• Can we have more that two facilitators delivering a programme to cover holidays and other commitments?
• I’ve not worked with my co-facilitator before and am concerned that we might not be compatible what do you suggest?
• I’m finding it difficult to deliver part of the curriculum, what can I do?
• I find fitting the curriculum into the time we have a problem, we find that we are running over each week, I am worried that we will not fit everything in.
• We are half way through the programme and my co-facilitator has had to drop out through illness, can you find me another facilitator?
• Can I deliver the programme over less than 13 weeks?
• Is there a parent manual available for parents with a learning disability?
• Is the facilitators delivery material available on PowerPoint?
• What is the evidence base for Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities?

How can I become a SFSC Facilitator?

You will need to complete a five day facilitator training course. Check the training dates and download the booking form. Return the completed form to us to book a training place.

You can also contact the SFSC Telephone Support Line for information about your nearest course and availability of places.

How can I get hold of the facilitator manual to be able to deliver programmes?

You will receive your facilitator manual when you have attend the five day SFSC facilitator training course.

What does the training allow me to do?

The training allows you to facilitate the 13 week SFSC Parenting programme with a group of parents.

How long do SFSC sessions with parents last?

The SFSC sessions with parents last for 3 hour per week for 13 weeks. Additional time needs to be provided if the group are breaking for a meal.

The training is very expensive, what do I get for my money?

You will receive a package that includes a five day SFSC facilitator training with refreshments, a Facilitators Manual, Parent Manual and Facilitators Certificate upon completion of the course. In addition you will have access to our Programme Officers who can offer support and advice five days a week in any aspect of the programme and its delivery. You will also have access to our quality assurance system for programme delivery and regional peer support groups, and receive regular mailouts on programme developments and other training through our quarterly newsletter.

I am very busy and cannot commit to 5 days training, is there a short course I can do?

The SFSC training lasts for five days. There is not a shorter version of this.

Can I deliver programmes on my own?

No. The SFSC Programme is a co-facilitation programme and therefore can only be delivered by two SFSC trained facilitators.

I have many years’ experience in parenting education, why do I need to co-facilitate?

The SFSC programme is a co-facilitation model. Evidence shows co-facilitation works better for both facilitators and parents. Co-facilitation allow for modelling of healthy relationships, and a greater diversity in skills, gender, and ethnicity. Practically, it also means that support can be given on a one to one basis when required during programme delivery without the whole group being disrupted.

Can Race Equality Foundation give funding to deliver programmes?

Race Equality Foundation generally do not provide funding to deliver the programme but we do provide support and advice around funding. Contact the SFSC support line for further information.

I have done the training and want to start delivering programmes, what do I do now?

A few basic steps to follow are:

• Identify a co-facilitator;
• Develop a recruitment strategy, and identify who the parents are that you want to attend;
• Book a Venue for 13 weeks;
• Organise refreshments;
• Organise transport and crèche if needed;
• Complete a registration form and return to REF (you will then receive any further materials you require to deliver the programme).

You can get further advice on all of the above by speaking to a programme officer on the SFSC support line.

I am having difficulty recruiting parents for a programme, can you help with this?

Programme Officers are very experienced and can offer lots of advice on this. We have examples of fliers that we can send you; we also sell posters that you can use to advertise the programme. We can also give advice on organising taster and information sessions. If you require help with this, call the SFSC support line.

Do you have promotional material that we can use to promote the programme?

REF keeps copies of a range of publicity materials that others have put together and this can be accessed by contacting our London office and requesting leaflets. These leaflets will give you ideas for putting together your own publicity materials. We also have eye catching A3 posters with a range of different images that can be purchased, these have a space for adding your own programme details. Contact the order line for any of these materials.

Are we able to use the REF logo on promotional/publicity material to promote the Programme?

Yes, if you contact a member of the SFSC team, they will forward you a copy of the logo and this can be used on all your promotional material as long as it is the SFSC Programme you are promoting.

What is a good number of parents to start a programme with?

Ideally your programme will be regularly attended by 8-12 parents. Fewer than six will make the group difficult to sustain and more than 15 may be difficult to manage. You should aim to recruit 14-16 parents as you may find that a few drop out.

Can we have more that two facilitators delivering a programme to cover holidays and other commitments?

Two facilitators should deliver the programme, however a third facilitator can be used to cover sickness and holidays but you should discuss this with your local Programme Officer.

I’ve not worked with my co-facilitator before and am concerned that we might not be compatible what do you suggest?

As part of the preparation process for delivering the SFSC course one of the things you need to do is have regular planning sessions with your co-facilitator, this will enable you to establish each others strengths and weaknesses. You should call the SFSC support line and speak to one of the team, as they can support you and your co-facilitator with planning and preparing for the course. You can also attend one of the Skills Development Training days that we run, which explores the co-facilitation process and how to work in this way.

It is natural to feel some anxiety when you are building a relationship but over the duration of the SFSC 13 week programme you should establish a relationship built on trust and knowledge of each others skills.

I’m finding it difficult to deliver part of the curriculum, what can I do?

Call the support line and a Programme Officer will be able to explain any aspect of the curriculum you are having difficulty with and talk through strategies for delivery. You can also address this with a programme officer during a programme monitoring visit, or attend a local peer support group where you can get advice from a Programme Officer and from other facilitators.

I find fitting the curriculum into the time we have a problem, we find that we are running over each week, I am worried that we will not fit everything in.

The key to running an effective programme is planning and preparation. If you follow the SFSC guidelines in the facilitator manual, it will give you timings for each exercise. However, we recognise that there are times when you need to respond to the parents in your group (their needs and the number of them) and so timing needs to be flexible. If you plan and prepare your session in advance then the time it takes to get through the material can be reduced. As you continue to run programmes you will become more familiar with the materials and your time management will become more effective. Remember you are not the only one having this problem; this is the experience of many a facilitator and is often due to the level of discussion generated because parents are enjoying the group so much!

There are also other strategies that can be employed to catch up when you fall behind with the curriculum. Give the SFSC support line a call and get some advice from a programme officer.

We are half way through the programme and my co-facilitator has had to drop out through illness, can you find me another facilitator?

We always try to help with this. We keep a database of facilitators who have made themselves available for freelance facilitation. We will need some details from you such as where the programme is taking and place, on what day and at what time, and for how long the facilitator will be required. We will also need to know if there are any specific requirements such as language skills. We will then try to source someone and put you in touch with them to make suitable arrangements.

Can I deliver the programme over less than 13 weeks?

The SFSC programme is a 13 week programme of 3 hours each week. Occasionally the programme has been delivered in a shorter time but with the same number of hours (so longer sessions, or two sessions each week). Changing the delivery of the programme has a number of complications and needs to be discussed with a programme officer who can advise you on the best way to proceed.

Is there a parent manual available for parents with a learning disability?

Currently REF is in the process of redesigning their parent manual to make it more accessible with the needs of parents with learning disabilities in mind. The manual is being put into simple words and pictures. This will be available from Autumn 2008.

Is the facilitators delivery material available on PowerPoint?

Facilitator overheads will be available as a PowerPoint file from October 2007.

What is the evidence base for Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities?

While it is true that we do not have any studies based on randomised controlled trials, there is evaluative evidence for SFSC.

• there is now a series of studies available for the programme from USA. We have a number of these in the office and we encourage those who are interested to come and look at them.
• there is a recently published article in a refereed American journal: Farber,M Maharaj, R in Research on Social Work Practice, Vol 15, No 6, Nov 2005, 501-515 (which can be sent electronically if requested).

We also have evaluative evidence from England.

• An independent study has recently been published on programmes delivered during 2004-05. Both the full report and the summary are down loadable.
• A report is available on programmes delivered in 2000-2001. In addition independent evaluation reports are available for a series of programmes delivered through The Coram project in Tower Hamlets, and a series of programme delivered by Holloway Parents Centre. All of which are available in the office.
• A film is also available which presents the views of parents who kept video diaries of their progress through the programme. Available from the order line.

SFSC is also one of the three programme that is part of the DfES Early Intervention Pathfinder Project. SFSC has been identified by DfES as having a solid evidence base.

Evaluation continues to be important. Data for 2005-2007 will soon be analysed and a further report published. In addition, PhD student based at the Open University is engaged in an evaluation study around the programme.