Parent Know How is designed to improve provision to all parents, but has a particular focus on meeting the needs of parents who are not as well served by current sources of help as they could be – including parents of disabled children, fathers from all backgrounds and parents of teenage children.
Plans to broaden support to parents through Parent Know How were announced by the Government in March 2007 by the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown. The Children’s Plan, released in December 2007, reiterated the Department’s commitment to the programme.
During 2006 and 2007, a range of options for improving provision was explored (then under the working project title Parents Direct). This included assessing current services; undertaking independent market research on parents’ likely use of different channels; and exploring the additional capacity new channels would introduce to the parenting support market.
As a result of this research, the Parent Know How programme is funding third-sector providers to reach parents through a range of new technologies, including better use of web services and social networking sites, instant messaging, and text messaging.
In addition, Parent Know How will create a syndicated print media solution, placing articles and advice in a range of publications popular with parents to cater for those parents who prefer to receive parenting information and advice in print.
