It also says linking visits to supporting children's play is seen asless stigmatising than focusing on parenting, and can help children'scentres identify families that need the most support.
The Family and Parenting Institute carried out interviews with centreprogramme managers and other staff at 18 Sure Start Local Programmesthat were becoming children's centres.
One practitioner said, 'Local authorities think you can just build thesewonderful children's centres and people will pour through the door. It'srelatively easy to get motivated parents in. But for the ones you reallywant to see, you need to work very hard.'
The study looked at home visits, parenting courses, support groups,family learning, adult education and employment support.
FPI chief executive Mary MacLeod said, 'Children's centres are becomingcentral to the delivery of family support. This shows they are findingways to engage excluded and vulnerable families and that home visits areessential.'
Download a summary of Family support in children's centres atwww.familyandparenting.org.
