Guide for Developing Self-Help/Advocacy Groups for Parents of Children with Serious Emotional Problems

• NCJ Number: 124941
• Author(s): R Donner; G Z Fine
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 39 pages
• Grant Number(s): MCJ-113806-01-0
• Sponsoring Agency: Georgetown University
• Sale Source: Georgetown University
• Publication Type: Youth-Oriented Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Workbook Series for Providing Services to Children with Handicaps and Their Families

Annotation

This workbook is a guide for developing self-help/advocacy groups for parents of children and adolescents who have serious emotional problems.

Abstract

The workbook deals with both support and advocacy. Self-help is defined as a group of people with a common problem who meet in a mutual support (peer) setting. Advocacy is defined as the act or process of leading the cause of another or of many. The transition from support to advocacy, while maintaining the support component, has occurred for many parent groups who focus on children with various handicapping conditions. Workbook guidelines for developing self-help/advocacy groups focus on creating a forum, establishing a meeting site, accessing parents, publicizing the group, and contacting parents. Guidelines to facilitate the first meeting and the decisionmaking process once a group is formed are included. Appendixes contain examples of posters or flyers, examples of newspaper notices, and references and national resources.