Development of a Parent Information KIT (KIT: Keeping it Together™)
A team of researchers, service providers and parents have collaborated to develop a Parent Information Kit for parents of children with special needs. The KIT: Keeping it Together™ has been designed to help these parents use information as a tool that will help them to get 'the best' for their child(ren). The KIT includes strategies, tips and resources about giving, getting and organizing information in an effective way. The KIT is intended to provide parents of children with special needs with the tools they need to communicate and interact effectively with people in different systems. It is useful for parents of children with a wide variety of special needs and all developmental ages from birth to 21 years, as well as for service providers who work within a family-centred model.
The KIT was developed through focus groups, interviews and field testing with parents of children with special needs at the Hamilton Family Network. Also, parent experts and members of parent support groups in Ontario provided consultation about the content and format of the KIT.
Read about an evaluative study of the utility and impact of the Parent Information Kit.
Research Team
- J Burke Gaffney
- T Szkut
- M Gemus
- R Durdan
Impact
- Will help parents be more efficient and effective as an advocate for their child(ren) with a developmental disability.
- Will help parents gain sense of control in dealing with the multiple systems that service their child(ren).
- An organizational tool for parents of children with a wide variety of special needs and all developmental ages from birth to 21 years.
- Useful to service providers who work within a family-centred model.
Funder
The Pollock Foundation - $125,000 (1997-2001)