KEY COMPETENCY 9.3 – BUILD MY CAPACITY
“I will facilitate access to peer and community support to provide a network of assistance for children and families.”
Peer and Community Support is the third competency under the ‘Build My Capacity’ Way of Working, and relates to the ‘design and delivery of services and supports‘ phase of the child’s early developmental support journey. It is important for:
Shared Experiences: Connecting families and practitioners fosters a sense of community, allowing individuals to share experiences, challenges, and successes, which can be incredibly validating and empowering.
Resource Sharing: Community support networks facilitate the exchange of valuable resources, information, and strategies, enhancing the overall effectiveness of care.
Building Resilience: Engaging with peers can help families build resilience and coping skills, as they learn from others who face similar challenges.
Enhanced Advocacy: Collective voices in the community can strengthen advocacy efforts, promoting greater awareness and access to necessary services.
Connecting children and families to peer and community support fosters a sense of belonging and offers additional resources to help them navigate challenges. Practitioners play a crucial role in facilitating these connections, helping families access broader support networks.
Peer and community support provides a network of resources and emotional assistance that strengthens families’ ability to cope with challenges. Studies show that families connected to community support experience better developmental outcomes.
Research and Further Reading:
Butler N, Quigg Z, Bates R, Jones L, Ashworth E, Gowland S, Jones M. The Contributing Role of Family, School, and Peer Supportive Relationships in Protecting the Mental Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents. School Ment Health. 2022;14(3):776-788. doi: 10.1007/s12310-022-09502-9. Epub 2022 Feb 6. PMID: 35154501; PMCID: PMC8818094.
COMPETENCY MILESTONES
I am able to:
Understand the value of peer and community support for children and families.
Provide basic information about available peer and community support resources.
Encourage families to connect with peers and community groups for additional support.
I am able to:
Actively connect children and families with relevant peer and community support networks.
Facilitate introductions and initial meetings with peer groups and community organisations.
Monitor the effectiveness of these support networks and provides ongoing guidance to ensure families benefit from the connections.
I am able to:
Develop and maintain strong relationships with a variety of peer and community support organisations.
Create and coordinate support groups or community events to foster connections among families.
Evaluate and refine strategies for facilitating peer and community support based on feedback and outcomes.
I am able to:
Lead efforts to expand and enhance peer and community support networks within the organisation and the broader community.
Advocate for policies and practices that promote the integration of peer and community support into service delivery.
Collaborate with community leaders and organisations to develop comprehensive support systems for children and families.
Reflection questions are a valuable tool for practitioners, promoting self-awareness, critical thinking, continuous improvement, and stronger relationships in their work with children and families. Below are some reflection questions for Key Competency 9.3: Peer and Community Support:
Am I helping families connect with peer and community support?
How can I better facilitate access to community resources?
Am I following up to ensure that families feel supported by their networks?
Connecting families to peer and community support creates a network of assistance that strengthens families’ ability to cope with challenges.
Access more information on the ChildKind Best Practice Framework with its 10 Ways of Working, 30 Key Competencies and 8 supporting Values and Behaviours here:
