Workshop Presentation from the Evidence Based Parenting Programmes and Social Inclusion conference held at Middlesex University, 20th September 2012

1. Families and Schools
Together
Middlesex University
Thursday 20th September
2012
03/10/2012 1

2.  Created by Professor Lynn McDonald in 1988
 Universal programme
 Early intervention/prevention strategies
 Uses a family approach
 Collaborative
03/10/2012 2

3. FAST Builds Protective Factors for the
Child against Risk
 Strengthens the family unit
 Parent-child
Parent-to-parent bond
Parent support group
Parent to community
 /school trust
03/10/2012 4

4. FAST Underpinning Theories
 Social Ecological Theory, Bronfenbrenner (1979)
 Social Capital, Coleman 1990
 Family Stress, Hill 1959, Boss 2002
 Family Systems
 Brain Development
03/10/2012 5

5. FAST Process
School identifies year group
Recruitment of Team and Families
8 Weekly Family Meetings
Graduation
Monthly Follow-up
Meetings (2 years)
FASTWORKS
03/10/2012 6

6. Parent
Partners
School Partners
FAST TEAM
Mental Community
Health Partner
Partner
03/10/2012 7

7. Family Unit at Family Table
•FAST Hello & Singing
•Meal
•Scribbles
•Feelings Charades
Parents’ Time Kids’ Time
•Buddy Time Peer Group Children divided by age
•Parent Self-Help Time for group activities
Group
Special Play Siblings
One-to-One Time continue
Kids’ Time
Family Table Lottery
Closing Circle, Announcements & RAIN
03/10/2012 8

8. How is FAST different?
 Universal and voluntary participation
 Delivered as multi hubs in UK
 Strengthens parent involvement with school
 High retention rates (2012 UK Aggregate shows 82%
retention)
 Multi-agency collaboration
 Parent led monthly groups after graduation
03/10/2012 10

9. What are the FAST Short term
outcomes?
 Improve family functioning.
 Reduce stress of daily living.
 Increase parent social support.
 Improve parent-child relationship.
 Improve child behaviour at home and school
 Increase parent involvement in education.
 Expand parent social relationships.
03/10/2012 11

10. What are the FAST long term
outcomes?
• Increased child well being and parent
relationships
• Alcohol and drug abuse.
• Violence and aggression
• School truancy and failure.
• Child abuse and neglect.
• Mental health problems.
• Youth delinquency and antisocial behaviour.
03/10/2012 12

11. The FAST evaluation uses a pre and post
mixed methods evaluation design, with
two independent reporters (parent and
teacher), using standardised instruments
with established validity and reliability.
03/10/2012 13

12. Evaluation Process
Various measures are used to investigate
changes in:
 Improvement in family and parent child relationships
 Improvement in behaviour of child at home
 Improvement in behaviour & academic performance in
 school
 Improvement in social community relationships
 Improvement in social support and reciprocal exchanges
 Improvement in parent school relationship
03/10/2012 14

13. Evaluation Measures
Programme Goals
Consumer Satisfaction
3: Reduce Stress from
4: Prevent Substance
2: Prevent School
1:Improve Family
Measures Used
Functioning
Daily Life
Failure
Abuse
Family Environment Scale (FES) – Family Relationship Index (Moos & Moos,
1981) X X X X
Parent-Child Relationship (McDonald & Moberg, 2002) X X X X
Self-Efficacy (Sherer, et al., 1982; Spoth et al, 1995; Coleman &
Karraker, 2000) X X X
Parental Involvement in Education (Epstein & Salinas, 1993; Shumow et
al, 1996) X
Academic Competence (Gresham & Elliott, 1990) X X
Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) X X X
Community Social Relationships (McDonald & Moberg, 2002) X X
Social Support (Sherbourne & Stewart, 1991) X
Reciprocal Parent Support (McDonald & Moberg, 2002) X X
Families and School Together Program Evaluation (McDonald &
Billingham, 1988; Meagher, 1996; McDonald 2009) X
03/10/2012 15

14. What's next for FASTUK
•Save the Children UK 2010-2014; 430 new FAST
groups for 3-5 year olds run throughout the UK
•FAST is one of a menu of evidence based
programmes being offered by the DfE in a pilot
scheme. Parenting programme “Free vouchers”
for parents in Middlesbrough, High Peaks and
Camden.
03/10/2012 16

15. Families and Schools Together UK
Middlesex University
2-10 Highgate Hill,
London
N19 5LW
Telephone: 020 8411 6004
www.mdx.ac.uk/fast
03/10/2012 17