Social Inclusion and Integrated Service Delivery: Children’s Centres and Ethnic Minorities

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Developing a Concept of Effective Engagement
• Ethnicity and Effective Engagement - Research Evidence from the Early Years
• Individual factors:
• Structural factors:
• Effective Engagement and Sensitive Service Design
• Integrated Children's Centres - The Background
• Turning to Practice: Engaging Effectively with Somali Parents
• Preliminary Remarks and Methodology
• Service Engagement of Somali Parents – External Factors
• Individual
• Ethnicity
• Environment
• Service Engagement of Somali Parents - Centres' Response
• Accessibility
• Inclusion
• Outcomes
• Concluding remarks

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the conditions necessary for effectively engaging with minority ethnic families in Sure Start Children's Centres in England. It defines effective engagement as accessible and inclusive provision that produces positive outcomes for users. The paper draws on existing research on ethnicity and Early Years provision, as well as a case study on the experiences of Somali parents in a South London community.

• The impact of family factors on children's opportunities
• The challenges of reaching minority ethnic families in Sure Start programmes
• The need for sensitive service design to address both individual and structural factors
• The role of staff training and resourcing in effective engagement
• The importance of involving parents in service planning, delivery and evaluation

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction highlights the significant impact of family factors, such as social class, household structure, and ethnicity, on a child's development and future opportunities. The paper also acknowledges the growing concern about the underrepresentation of minority ethnic families in Sure Start programs and the need for a more inclusive approach.

Chapter 2 explores the concept of effective engagement, defining it as accessible and inclusive provision that produces positive outcomes for users. It delves into the different dimensions of engagement, including accessibility, inclusivity, and outcomes, and emphasizes the importance of considering both individual and structural factors in service design.

Chapter 3 reviews existing research on ethnicity and effective engagement in the Early Years sector. It examines the individual and structural factors that influence the participation of minority ethnic families in Early Years programs, highlighting the importance of understanding the specific needs and challenges faced by different ethnic groups.

Chapter 4 provides an overview of the background and development of Integrated Children's Centres (ICCs) in England. It examines the government's Every Child Matters strategy and the role of ICCs in delivering comprehensive services to children and families. The chapter also touches on the challenges and opportunities of integrating different services under one roof.

Chapter 5 focuses on the experiences of Somali parents in a South London community, offering a case study of the challenges and opportunities for effective engagement with minority ethnic families. The chapter explores the external factors that influence the service engagement of Somali parents, including individual factors, ethnicity, and environmental factors.

Chapter 5 continues to explore the case study of Somali parents, analyzing the centre's response to the needs of this community. It examines the accessibility, inclusivity, and outcomes of services provided by the centre, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the centre's approach.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This research focuses on engaging effectively with minority ethnic families in Sure Start Children's Centres in England. Key terms include: effective engagement, ethnicity, service design, accessibility, inclusivity, outcomes, individual factors, structural factors, Somali parents, case study, Early Years provision, Sure Start, Integrated Children's Centres, and the Every Child Matters strategy.