Parent Action Connects : Online Independent Family Advocacy services for parent carers of children and adults with disabilities

Parent Action CIC

Parent Action CIC is a social enterprise set up by parent carers for parent carers.  Parent carers are the parents of babies, children, young people and adults with disabilities/lifelong health conditions.  Based on 2011 census figures, there are more than 300,000 parent carers in NI. Parent Action parent carers, have designed an Independent Family Advocacy Training Service, to ensure our voices are heard for our children, in vital public services.

What is Independent Family Advocacy?

Advocacy is all about listening to a person and then supporting them to take control and have their voice heard.  Parent Action uses a peer advocacy model, which is all about people supporting people who are having similar experiences.  Parent Action Independent Family Advocates are parent carers and peers, trained and experienced in Independent Advocacy.

Independent Advocacy is a way of empowering people to:

• Clearly express their views, wishes and feelings
• Protect their rights
• Ensure that services are accessible and appropriate and identify gaps in service provision
• Ensure that individual voices are heard, and influence decisions made which affect their lives,  by those in positions of power

 The Parent Action community of parent carers, across NI, have come together during the COVID19 lockdown to develop a virtual community so that we can;

• Easily access Parent Action’s Independent Family Advocacy Training Services online
• Raise parent carers awareness of organisations and services locally, and help parent carers to connect with local community supports for them and their children, to ensure parent carers, can be the parents they wish to be
• Easily access peer support from other parent carers, as this is the most effective support parent carers report to us.

This virtual community is called Parent Action Connects and will;

• develop Parent Action CIC’s  1:2:1 Independent Advocacy Training Service, with parent carers online;
• develop and facilitate our peer advocacy Parent 2 Parent groups online, for support and friendship and to help build each others resilience and emotional wellbeing 
• develop the Parent Action Connects virtual platform and community, to bring parent carers and services together, and promote our children’s human rights in their receipt of public services, regardless of the child’s age (your child can be an adult!) or diagnosis,
• raise awareness of the experience of parent carers and children, young people and adults with disabilities/lifelong health conditions, with all public services, and the NI public, when trying to overcome barriers to accessing vital public service for their child
• promote the enablement and empowerment of all parent carers, towards self advocacy for their own and their children and family’s needs, in their homes, schools and local communities.

That couldn’t be easier!

Just email Orla on [email protected] to book your first 1:2:1 discussion with Orla, either by phone or by Zoom, whichever you prefer.  (Please make email contact with Orla in the first instance, as we are anticipating significant demand from parent carers for our online services. Email communication will enable us to respond to you in a timely manner, and enable you to join the service effectively.)

Please don’t send any personal information by email.  Orla will explain how participation in Parent Action Connects works, and discuss with you, your personal preferences for being involved.  Your participation is designed and guided by you, with your Advocates help of course.  So do get in touch!

We are taking action..............Parent Action!

Telephone:  Orla on 07752303854

Email: [email protected]

www.nicva.org/organisations/parent-action