A core component of INFANT sessions is providing the opportunity for parents to share experiences with each other in safe and supportive environment.
Facilitation tips
Here are some practitioner reflections on facilitating group discussions with parents:
- Use open-ended questions to stimulate discussion (rather than yes/no):
“Being reminded to use open ended questions to facilitate discussions and interactions is really valuable.” – INFANT training participant.
- Mixed approaches to engage quieter groups:
“Quiet(er) groups can be tricky to get them talking but I feel these sessions are quite interactive and with a mix of facilitator talking and videos and then focusing on the babies on the floor this will help them interact” – INFANT training participant.
- Focus on facilitating, not leading:
“(The) facilitator is there to guide the conversation back on track or around a bumpy situation. Also having eyes/ears open to someone who may reveal a difficult issue that needs discrete following up at the end of group to check in with them…” – INFANT training participant.
- Managing ‘no screen time’ discussions:
When discussing recommendations around ‘no screen time’, it may be helpful to start with a prompt about the current situation – e.g. it seems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are using their screen-based devices more. Ask participants some follow-up questions such as:
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- Do you find this is the case?
- Is this an issue for you?
- If so, what can we do about it?
The My Baby Now app has lots of alternative suggestions for keeping babies busy, or when they are tired or grouchy. You could also remind parents that the expert recommendation of the Australian 24-hour movement guidelines of ‘no screen time for under 2’s’ does not include interacting online with family and friends.
Experiences engaging families from priority populations
- We know from experiences that some families may find it difficult to access INFANT or First Time Parent Groups, including those who have complex health, social or cultural barriers. For these families, INFANT content and key messages can be integrated into individual consultations (e.g. KAS visits and Enhanced visits) and INFANT session resources provided so that these families also receive consistent messages.
- INFANT groups have been successfully run with a range of families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and interpreters have been used effectively in INFANT group sessions.
What’s in the pipeline from the INFANT team?
- More INFANT cases studies about LGAs engaging families from priority populations including with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Enhanced MCH families.
- Adaptation and co-design of low literacy culturally inclusive INFANT session resources is underway in 2022.
- Two PhD projects:
- focusing on how to engage and support Dads with heathy eating and active play in the first 2,000 days.
- working with VACCHO and exploring how to engage and support Victorian Aboriginal families with healthy eating and active play in the first 2,000 days.
Encouraging parents to attend all sessions
The INFANT program is more effective if all four sessions are attended. This helps to reinforce key messages as babies develop and allows for ongoing support and connection with other parents. However, we also understand that it is sometimes challenging for parents to attend all sessions, particularly as they return to work. Find out about some strategies to assist retention in the video below, these include –
- Scheduling INFANT alongside other activities to provide a ‘hook’ for parents to attend e.g. CPR training.
- Pre-empting with parents what is to come in the next session.
- Suggest sharing of contact details between parents who want to, so they can meet up for pram walks or local outings.
- Provide a certificate of completion after all four sessions or a small incentive such as a swim pass or reusable snack container – see INFANT participant certificate in the ‘Facilitator resources’ section here.
Your task
Watch the video of the INFANT team’s Anthea Gregoriou and Kathy McConell, Implementation Coordinators as they describe different approaches that have been used to encourage parents to attend all four sessions and group engagement.
Submit a comment to share your experiences or challenges with engaging priority populations in your community. Read the comments from others and the INFANT team. Click the ‘mark complete’ button once you’re ready, then select ‘next lesson’ for the next step.
I wish we didn’t have to offer incentives for parents to attend. But the coffee and swim passes help. I think running a promotional story in our local paper ‘s health and well being section would be helpful too.
Some great ideas in the video! Providing a warm and open space for parents is essential for engagement and allowing parents to build connections.
I find combining INFANT with sleep information at some of the later session has increased our numbers. In the later groups, I provide the key messages in a more open conversation playgroup style session. I often use the key messages in everyday KAS consultations on a 1:1 level.
Another vote for a universal INFANT power point!
It would be great to incorporate the 3month session into the FTPG, then add on the extra sessions afterwards and promote the sessions that way. The group hopefully has momentum by then and the parents more keen to engage as they have already formed the group. I love all of the ideas and messages and already incorporate them into the KAS appointments when discussing solids and active play.
These are some great ideas in this video! Unfortunately our issue has been with staffing and it being difficult to have a nurse out of the centres running the follow up groups. We have some extra staff now so hopefully in 2023 we should be able to complete the whole series with each new group.
Love these ideas. It can seem so hit and miss as to why some groups thrive and have good engagement and follow up and others don’t.
thanks for ideas
Our MCH have started offering after work First Time Dad’s group, I’ve been contemplating seeing how we could maybe integrate INFANT into these groups as usually it is mums attending FTPG and INFANT.
If we find the 9month group not as well attended as 3 and 6, we will sometimes run the INFANT session at our local PEEP group as this continues to be well attended by parents after 12 months
great
So many great suggestions below. Important to note that what might work for one group might not for another, so lots of trial and error and flexibility will be needed.
A few years ago we invited FTP group back at 6mths.
1.5 hr session we discussed ,solids, development and play briefly.
We had the scales in the group room. The offer of an extra weight seems to interest parents.
We have started to provide dates of the 4 sessions to our parents attending first time parents groups and automatically setting reminders and invitations to these sessions, I think it is slowly starting to increase attendance. Cooking demos at the 6 mth group have been well received. Engagement in any groups are particularly tricky at the moment though
I would agree with the previous comments.
It can be tricky to have parents reattend the sessions.
Cooking and solids session is working well.
All groups are different and we learn from them all. Groups linking up on facebook to share thoughts and connections is one way our groups stay connected ( with consent of course)
An online option to be able to attend all 4x sessions would be beneficial for those families where both parents are working full time.
I am hopeful that if we implement Infant Program into our FTPG it may give us some momentum to book and encourage attendance at the subsequent session.
I find that parents are usually most keen to learn info from the 3 month session, and then interest sometimes dissipates. I will actually try and now tell parents that the most benefit comes from attending all four sessions, and hopefully this will help increase attendance.
Online options are always worth considering to allow flexibility.
Ideally both parents would attend 4 sessions which may then require evening bookings. In many families grandparents are main influencers in what happens in the home so if from CALD background it would be great to have Grandparents sessions. Funding would most definately be an issue plus staff shortages are currently impacting on services.
Program attrition is perennial issue, people move on however incentives and regular support through private facebook groups have worked for us in the past.
Because this year is the first attempt at implementing INFANT, it has been a bit of trial and error. INFANT was incorporated onto the first-time parent group sessions, and it was this cohort that is invited back and sent reminders for the 6m, 9m and 12m sessions for that group. Once established we would love to be able to offer the program to wider populations eg refugee and CALD groups and multiparas. However, we are limited by not currently having ongoing co-facilitation staff from other allied health or community groups outside of MCH to support this.
Great ideas, in how to engage families on a deeper level.
Great practical ideas, thanks for the comments about reducing anxiety, it’s so important if people are to return.
I agree, practical ideas, social connection is important
We also find participation after the 6 month session challenging – we now offer a free coffee which they order on the RSVP and that has increased attendance. For one family engaged in our EMCH service who would not attend a group I have provided INFANT 1:1 in their home and both parents have attended.
Keeping it fun, causal and social will increase attendance.
Engagement will always be tricky with priority groups as they need a bigger buy in to commit to the sessions. Offering other things or programs at the same time might enhance attendance. However the funding and time required would be a barrier for most councils.
Great to have an online option for those clients who are unable to get to various venues or if timing of group not suitable with their sleep schedules
An online option is a great idea for some sessions at each age group.
It would be great if Deakin University could provide four power point presentations to use to facilitate either face to face or online sessions, as lots of people learn visually and having a visual to look at then often takes the focus off the facilitator and especially if they are not very confident in running a session.
At City of Whittlesea we have our own in house slides that we can use, but having an official “Infant” power point presentation would be amazing.
Hi Nolene, we too have our own inhouse power point presentation and agree that a universal power point would be fantastic!
Definitely agree with this 🙂
100% yes to this Noelene! I have made a powerpoint for our council too but a standardised one for INFANT would be great.
At City of Whittlesea, we are going to include the first session of Infant into the First Time Parents Group, and promote the other sessions within the group, so that hopefully the entire group will all book in together to the other 3 sessions as future social catch ups and education at the same time.
Offering free coffee or gifts is a great idea but takes funds which we don’t have.
I do like the idea of a participation certificate.
Participation numbers are always challenging but ongoing promotion of sessions is vital.
Participation & attendance has been an issue since the Infant program was first introduced here at Whittlesea 10 yrs ago particularly after the 6m session. I found when the groups are booked from the FTP & there are already some social connections attendance improved. When the venue, facilitator & some participants are already known that reduces anxiety. This doesn’t really address the priority populations though.
As well as F2F, I feel we also need an on line option ( that also interactive) for people who are unable to attend F2F
the challenges we face for attendance is the time of day and the location that may not suit all families wanting to access the group. Offering it online would allow more families to attend,
Offering F2F gives the best opportunity for families to really engage, however an online option is a great idea for those parents who have returned to work or can’t get to sessions- they may be more inclined to get engage in there own time.
Giving an overview of the content of the 4 sessions in the introduction of the first session would be beneficial. Also emphasizing the fun factor of social interaction and connection between the group participants would help greatly.
My council has found the 3rd session, (when babies are 9 months old) very difficult to retain numbers as many parents are back at work. Offering another educational session like CPR would be a great way to get parents to the session.
As session 1 is incorporated within our New Parent Groups, we have ensured when families are invited back for session 2 that they are with families from their New Parent Group. We have also tried our best to ensure who they had facilitating their NPG that they are one who is facilitating their INFANT sessions for the continuity, but also because they have built a relationship with that person of the 7 weeks of NPG. Within our LGA at present we are a team of 2 who do all NPG sessions and INFANT sessions though we are expanding and by the end of the year will be a team of 5. This we see will benefit and strength our current approach.
We have done the same thing Mel with Session 1 with the new parents group. We also run it at the same location /room as the new parents group so everyone is familiar with the location.
Offering parents incentives such as coffee vouchers is great however funding is required to cover this. Contact with parents between the sessions could be considered – emails/sms reminder as a way of touching base with them. I think incorporating INFANT into the First Time Parent Groups would be a valuable way of encouraging their engagement as they already have connections with these parents.
Providing a relaxed/casual environment can be less intimidating for parents and can encourage them to continue to return to subsequent sessions.
Not overly structured, good to promote a comfortable environment to help people relax and feel more comfortable to partake in conversation.
If the sessions are kept open to free discussion and parents enjoy the fun learning style they are more likely to attend the next session.
I feel we don’t have capacity to offer free coffee or small gifts but a certificate of completion is manageable.
I think running some CALD specific sessions for parents of the same cultural background might be helpful so that can also help to foster the social connection between those family groups in between the sessions. Also inviting an interpreter along to those sessions as well of course.
That’s a great idea. Might encourage better attendance at sessions also?!
making it a warm, non clinical environment and setting group agreed rules decreases social anxiety
One way to increase attendance to Infant would be to keep the groups engaged with one another and have families booked into all four groups from the beginning. Reminder messages are also essential.
Yes, This is a great idea.
Book all four sessions at the 8 Week KAS and then families will be attending together too.
This sounds great – maybe worth going with an opt out option and seeing if this helps with attendance.
Great ideas on the video.
We have recently had a brainstorm/planning meeting with the INFANT wroking group to look at increasing participation rates. We have added the 4 INFANT session to the original New Parent Group flyer that the parents get, so that the New Parent Group is now 9 sessions – hoping this will make a difference to participation. Also, using a cooking demo at the 6 month INFANT to make the session a little different. Tokens are also given.
Outlining the the content of the 4 sessions in the introduction of the first session and emphasizing the ability to have social interaction and connection between the group participants.
Maybe by addressing the expectation and benefits of attending all 4 sessions right at the start??asking mother’s their desires and expectations of the group
I can see the difficulty of getting them involved for the 4 sessions, I also cannot at this moment see how MCH would have the capacity to do this
In the universal service, I feel engaging families to continue will be slightly easier if we join it to FTPG as these groups will more than likely continue in contact with each other between the sessions from the connection already formed in the FTPG.
Working in EMCH it has been a challenge to get momentum. Things that have worked has been piggybacking off established groups where the social anxiety was already addressed, such as young mums group.
I feel contact between sessions to build momentum such as newsletters or check in’s could assist to build momentum.
The use of social media or the app to allow interaction between set groups and their facilitator to maintain a relationship could be considered.