SAPPIN is very proud to announce that Wilmi Dippenaar, one of our driver group members, has completed her Masters degree in Implementation Research at the University of Western Cape.
Her Masters dissertation is entitled “Exploring the practical implementation of two evidence-based parenting programmes in a small rural community” and is inspired by her work and research done with the Seven Passes Initiative in Touwsranten. Using the four core principles of Dean L Fixsen et al.’s Implementation Research: A Synthesis of the Literature, she was able to utilize all the information gathered through the research programme and implement it in Touwsranten, in the evidence-based Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) programmes.
Wilmi says that the fact that it contributes to better service delivery definitely makes it worth all the sweat and tears.
Many parents in South Africa face difficult obstacles when it comes to parenting. Evidence-based parenting programmes are key to success to help parents to work in a more positive way with their children.
In Touwsranten, evidence-based Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) programmes have been implemented. Although these programmes have been tested in randomised controlled trials, the implementation process of the programmes has not been explored. This research aimed to explore the implementation of the PLH parenting programmes using the four phases of the EPIS framework. EPIS refers to the exploration, preparation, implementation and sustainment phases.
A qualitative explorative study was implemented focusing on the formative process of the implementation. Nine semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data and participants were purposively recruited. Four parenting facilitators, two principal investigators of a research study, two programme designers and one supervisor were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. All ethical considerations were adhered to such as the confidentiality and anonymity of participants. The findings show that personal character and the internalising of programme principles were more important than qualifications when appointing parenting facilitators, that the formal training is insufficient but ongoing training provided by the programme designers and the organisation assures quality delivery, and that having been a programme participant enhances a facilitator’s ability to implement the programmes.
On an organisational level, retention, referrals, and recruitment were the biggest challenges. On a personal level, the exposure to secondary trauma that resulted in compassion fatigue was the biggest challenge for parenting facilitators. Challenges experienced included compassion fatigue of the parenting facilitators and contextual factors such as hunger and excessive alcohol use by programme recipients. The advantages of group supervision for the facilitators were highlighted.
On the 15th and 16th of March 2023, the SAPPIN network met for our 9th SAPPIN meeting. The Phaphama Initiative hosted SAPPIN in Soweto, where two fruitful days were spent discussing and deliberating over where SAPPIN currently is and where it is going.
The main focus of the meeting was on the shared experience of being together and discussing the activities of the network since our last meeting, which was at the inaugural Families Indaba in October 2022.
There was significant discussion on the value proposition of SAPPIN for member organisations, which included a presentation and analysis of the SAPPIN strategic plan.
Once the valuable brainstorming sessions were complete, we shared a festive evening meal in Vilakazi Street.
We feel that much was achieved in the meeting in terms of SAPPIN’s plans, with the most powerful takeaway being the experience of collaboration through the unity of purpose in the critical area of parenting and parent support.
The highlight of 2022 was without a doubt The Families Indaba. Through hosting this event we were allowed to lobby around “parent support” with many more government entities, funders and potential partners.
The media launch took place on the 7th of September 2022, in Johannesburg, and was livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
The Families Indaba took place in Johannesburg on the 26th and 27th of October and has helped us build continued conversation and interest in Parenting work, grounded in tangible projects such as:
SAPPIN has been busy throughout 2022 focusing on programme training, one such example being training on positive parenting programmes. We have also focused on building personnel capacity within member organisations, where the following training was offered:
Other achievements are SAPPIN’s ongoing involvement with the National and Western Cape Violence Prevention Forums, where we have two organisations on the steering committee of the Western Cape VPF and one organisation on the national VPF. SAPPIN members were acknowledged for the vital role they play in the design process and the standard of programmes delivered in The Department of the Premier’s Office's Families Strengthening programmes.
SAPPIN was asked to facilitate the Community of Practice meeting and support these organisations. Supervision forms part of the ongoing support and capacity building of the group. We have bi-monthly supervision meetings where any member can join.
The research portfolio is currently working on the write-up of an evidence-based article. Another activity was a focus group discussion about the implementation.
During 2022, 668 431 children were directly supported. 3 048 610 were reached through awareness campaigns, and 2615 volunteers and professionals were educated or trained.
The group met in Cape Town in March and saw each other at the Families Indaba in Johannesburg in October.
If you are new to the network or wish to share information about SAPPIN check out this video for the perfect summary of what we are about.