ResearchResearch Reports

Supporting Parents: a Study of Parents’ Support Needs

Sinead Riordan, Centre for Social and Educational Research,
Dublin Institute of Technology (2001)

As part of the Families Research Programme, the Department of Social and Family Affairs commissioned the Centre for Social and Educational Research at the Dublin Institute of Technology to conduct an in-depth survey of parents support needs. Reported here are the results of this unique survey of the experiences and views of parents. The report analyses the pattern of their replies and quotes extensively from the comments made by the parents themselves.

The broad aim of this research was to address a lack of knowledge about the support needs of parents and to generate data on parents support needs with a view to informing policy and service development in the area of family and parenting support. It is now generally accepted that all parents will require support at whatever level at some stage. Supporting parents through preventative and protective support services for families is part of a wider objective namely, to reduce the risk of potentially damaging events for children. Access to, availability and quality of services and information provision for parents and families are important aspects of support. Therefore, it is important to examine parents’ awareness and use of support services and the availability of information on parenting and child care issues.

To download the report in .pdf format click below:

Supporting Parents: a Study of Parents’ Support Needs (.pdf)