Engaging parents in community-based support to develop co-parental relationships that positively impact on their children: a voluntary sector perspective

Abstract

The importance of community engagement as part of a strategy to reduce conflict between children’s parents is becoming increasingly recognised by central government. This paper presents the experiences of volunteers and voluntary sector staff delivering a community-based relationship support initiative. Findings and recommendations reflect that extensive work is required to manage expectations in community-based initiatives and that cultural resistance and environmental barriers pose a challenge to engaging parents in community-based support.