Parenting for Lifelong Health - COVID-19 Parenting Resources
About
PLH has led a multi-agency emergency COVID-19 response with the WHO, UNICEF, UNODC, USAID, CDC, Global Partnership to End Violence among other implementing and funding partners to deliver parenting guidance and support to families across the globe. The core programme materials comprise a set of open-source resource sheets, condensing evidence from multiple RCTs of our established PLH programmes in Africa, Asia and Europe. These materials have been developed and diversified for multiple media formats and distribution networks, with rapid scale-up. Launched in March 2020 as countries entered “lockdowns” and closed schools, our materials reached 86 million people in 182 countries by October.
Programme delivery
Translated into 114 languages, the COVID-19 Parenting resources focus on reducing risk of physical, emotional and sexual violence against children while increasing positive parent-child interaction and reducing parental stress. Topics include relationship building through One-on-One Time, positive reinforcement of positive behaviour, learning through play, nonviolent behaviour management, consistent rules and routines including online child safety, talking about COVID-19, family budgeting, anger and stress management, and support for remote learning and education.
Formats include tip sheets (WHO COVID-19 parenting website) illustrated comic strips, radio sketches, TV broadcasts, public service announcement via loudspeakers and community radio, community worker templates, webinars, social media messaging, interactive text messages, online parent support groups, phone-based counselling, and a theme song. Distribution and dissemination utilise food parcels and product packaging, health services, media networks, emergency phone lines, web influencers, social workers, faith and community leaders and networks, professional associations, government ministries and political leaders. All materials are completely open-source and freely available.
The COVID-19 Parenting response uses a strategic approach to deliver messages across these different human-digital platforms, with population-level mass messaging, supported by low-intensity broadcasting, supplemented by medium-intensity targeting through parenting support hotlines and caseworker calls, and finally concentrated high-intensity modes of structured interactive-by-text programmes, facilitated online groups, and remote training. In all modes of messaging, attention is given to cultural sensitivity, situational context, and infrastructure capacity, using technologies to expand reach whilst increasing accessibility. Forthcoming work will develop accessible versions to allow playful learning for children and families with disabilities, and content adapted for use in refugee camps and other emergency settings.
Programme efficacy
PLH is committed to building the evidence of effectiveness and learning about mechanisms of delivery of the COVID-19 Parenting resources using the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance). The reach of the resources is determined based on reports from implementing agencies, social media metrics, Google analytics, and direct distribution. Retrospective surveys and qualitative interviews and focus groups will examine the impact of the media-based strategies delivered at population level. PLH is also conducting feasibility pilots of the interactive parent text message system (ParenText) in Jamaica, Malaysia, Philippines, and South Africa, as well as the online parent support groups (ePLH) in 6 different countries. Further optimisation and feasibility testing will continue in 2021 with randomised controlled trials to test effectiveness planned in 2022 and beyond.