Advancing parenting support amid crises: GPI's highlights at #SVRIForum2024

The Global Parenting Initiative team continues to make an impact at the #SVRIForum2024, hosted by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) . Yesterday, our researchers partners actively engaged in discussions, shared valuable findings, and collaborated with global partners to advance the movement toward safer, more equitable communities.

Dr Isang Awah shared insights on implementing parenting interventions amid crises, discussing challenges like adapting programmes for displaced families and lessons learned to improve future humanitarian efforts.

“In the past few years, our team of Global Parenting Initiative, and Parenting for Lifelong Health, in collaboration with UN agencies, have developed and disseminated parenting resources to support families affected by different humanitarian crises, including the Ukraine conflict and the 2022 climate crisis in PakistanI.”- Isang Awah.

Genevieve Haupt Ronnie presented the SUPER (Scale-up of Parenting Evaluations Research) study team’s (Tendai Mutembedza, Natalie Davidson , Mukondi Nethavhakone,?Hlengiwe Gwebu,? Cathy Ward ) findings on taking parenting programmes to scale. They explored effective strategies, barriers, and lessons learned from scaling initiatives in various settings.

A poster titled "Risk and Protective Factors for Child Maltreatment and Positive Parenting among Migrant and Displaced Families from Myanmar" presented by Amanda Sim, @Seema Vyas, Eve Puffer, Tawanchai Jirapramukpitak, Francisco Calderon, Stephanie Eagling-Peche, Khaing Zar Lwin, Jamie Lachman , G.J. Melendez-Torres, highlighted key insights into the experiences of displaced families. The research identified patterns of risk and protective factors affecting parenting and child maltreatment. The findings emphasised the need for tailored interventions that address parental stress, economic hardship, and social support to promote positive parenting and prevent violence against children in humanitarian contexts.

Day two of the #SVRIForum2024 wrapped with a series of impactful four-minute presentations that showcased diverse approaches to preventing violence against children. Joyce Wamoyi shared findings from a digital programme focused on caregivers, emphasising the importance of customising digital interventions to local contexts for maximum effectiveness. Her presentation highlighted how tailoring solutions to meet specific community needs can significantly enhance programme outcomes.

Roselinde Janowski presented their team’s work on an offline-first app designed for parents of adolescents in Tanzania. The presentation explored strategies to boost user engagement and reduce sexual violence, shedding light on the potential of digital tools to address complex social issues in challenging environments.

Godfrey Siu , along with his research team provided baseline insights from the Parenting for Respectability trial in Uganda, focusing on how family structures impact child maltreatment prevalence.

#EndViolence #ParentingSupport #ChildProtection #SVRIForum2024 #HumanitarianAid #DigitalInterventions #ScalingUp #GlobalParenting