News
This month we strived to add structure and purpose to the St Christopher’s Children with Disability Parental Support Group. For the first time we engaged a professional and independent facilitator who was trained in working with support groups. We also included co-leaders (social worker, therapists) and subject matter professionals, such as an education psychologist. Parents saw the inclusion of professions as an effective way of learning and increase support opportunities.
A total number of 24 caregivers and10 healthcare professionals discussed the value of support groups and made recommendations for support group design based on the caregiver needs. The caregivers appreciated the formal set up of the support group with their own elected leadership a source of emotional support, community, a sense of belonging and friendship.
They also saw this development as the opportunity to give and receive feedback on the project. The group created a platform for advocacy and empowerment, as witnessed by their immediate request for healthcare professionals ‘to keep time’.
