From hard to reach to how to reach: A systematic review of the literature on hard-to-reach families

Boag‐Munroe, Gill; Evangelou, Maria

doi:10.1080/02671522.2010.509515

Cited by 106 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Indeed, the framework acknowledges that patterns of service use and uptake arise from mutually constructed relationships between services and clients, with a mix of individual‐, provider‐, programme‐ and neighbourhood‐level factors contributing to disengagement (Winkworth et al., 2010). A particular advantage of this approach is its capacity to overcome the risk of stigmatising so‐called hard‐to‐reach groups by making visible how organisational features including service design, resources and administration shape the relevance, appropriateness and accessibility of services and, ultimately, patterns of participation (Barrett, 2008; Boag‐Munroe & Evangelou, 2010; Crozier & Davies, 2007, Doherty et al., 2003; Katz, La Place & Hunter, 2007). Indeed, as Landy and Menna (2006) recommend, thinking needs to shift to consider not what makes individuals ‘hard‐to‐reach’ but what makes the assistance on offer hard for some groups to accept.…”

Section: Conceptualising ‘Hard‐to‐reach’mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This article is concerned with strategies for targeting services to people who are eligible for assistance, but who do not usually take up the help available, or are difficult for service providers to identify and engage. Ensuring that resources meet the needs of these groups are matters of both social inclusion and cost‐effectiveness, so go to the heart of enduring and perplexing challenges for policy makers, managers, practitioners and users, and for health and social welfare research (Boag‐Munroe & Evangelou, 2010; Craig et al., 2007; Doherty, Hall & Kinder, 2003; Pinney, 2007; VanDenBerg & Grealish, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overlooked and under‐served? Promoting service use and engagement among ‘hard‐to‐reach’ populations

Cortis

2011

Int J Soc Welfare

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Cortis N. Overlooked and under‐served? Promoting service use and engagement among ‘hard‐to‐reach’ populations Social service providers strive to meet the needs of those most marginalised from society and from service systems. Yet many people who might benefit from available help consistently miss out. Using qualitative data, this study developed a repertoire of actions that organisations and service personnel can employ to improve participation and outcomes for groups who may be eligible for and may benefit from services, but whom service providers find difficult to identify, reach and engage. Semi‐structured interviews with service managers and coordinators of child, family and youth services in Australia attest to the diversity and context specificity of those who are deemed to be ‘hard‐to‐reach’. The research data highlight ways to improve reach and engagement in a managerialist context by refining organisational action in four strategic domains: overcoming access barriers, building client relationships, utilising networks and partnerships, and ensuring staff capacity and sustainability.

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Section: Conceptualising ‘Hard‐to‐reach’mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overlooked and under‐served? Promoting service use and engagement among ‘hard‐to‐reach’ populations

Cortis

2011

Int J Soc Welfare

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“…This can lead to them being positioned as 'hard to reach', when in fact it would be more accurate to say that services are hard for them to engage with or know about. Boag-Munroe and Evangelou (2012) argue that calling some groups 'hard to reach' can provide a convenient label that disguises the complexities of their lives and the factors that contribute to their disengagement, leading to them being blamed for problems that are actually created by the structure, design and delivery of services. Garbers et al (2006) in their review of Sure Start Local Programmes, found that fathers appeared as a 'hard to reach' group for a variety of reasons, including men feeling intimidated by a female dominated environment and the lack of service provision outside of standard working hours which made accessing services impossible for those working during those time periods.…”

Section: Are Young Dads Hard To Reach?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Are young fathers “hard to reach”? Understanding the importance of relationship building and service sustainability

Davies

2016

JCS

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Are young fathers 'hard to reach'? Understanding the importance of relationship building and service sustainability IntroductionThis article explores service provision for young fathers through analysis of data from the three year ESRC funded project Following Young Fathers.1 It draws on data collected in interviews and focus groups with practitioners, service managers and those working to develop and deliver family support services in the UK. The focus of the article is an exploration of the idea that young fathers are a 'hard to reach' group and it begins with a discussion of literature and research evidence on this theme. Our research findings, and those of others discussed in the article, challenge the idea that young fathers are 'hard to reach', suggesting that we should, conversely, consider that many services are actually hard to access. Thus, increasing young fathers' engagement requires better understanding of their often complex needs and a reshaping of service design and delivery to account for them. The article highlights how the configuration, funding and delivery of services can inhibit young fathers' use of them, and identifies ways in which they could be made more accessible.Key words: young fathers; family support; hard to reach; practitioner/service use relationships; funding; UK Young fathers and engagement with support servicesResearch conducted with young fathers themselves has shown that their support needs are complex and interconnected. These findings, which have been reported more fully elsewhere , indicate that needs range from requiring assistance to access training, educational and employment opportunities to support with managing finances, relationships and developing childcare skills. Some of these needs are common to all new parents, but they present particular challenges for those who become parents at an early age and have not yet developed an independent adult lifestyle. A range of responses is therefore needed from specialist and more generic services, with the development of father inclusive practice an important element of delivering services that can respond effectively to the range of needs that young fathers may present with. Ideals of contemporary fatherhood are increasingly based around emotional engagement, sensitivity, intimacy and hands on parenting activity, with the breadwinner role less dominant (Dermott and Miller, 2015). For those entering parenthood early and unable to act as the family breadwinner, providing hands on care can be extremely important, but many young men see breadwinning and caring as interlinked, with the ability to provide financial support enabling them to 'be there' for their children (see Neale and Davies, 2016).

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“…The research and literature in this area highlights the complexities associated with service provision and working with a diverse range of families to achieve these aims (Boag-Munroe and Evangelou, 2012). Playgroups as sites for these interventions are attractive because they offer a cultural context where parents and children come together to facilitate children's play.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Playgroups as sites for parental education

McLean

Edwards

Evangelou

et al. 2015

Journal of Early Childhood Research

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There is widespread international interest in parental education as a means of promoting educational equality through improving educational outcomes for young children. The research in this area suggests an association between the home learning environment and children's educational outcomes and highlights the importance of parental education for supporting young children's learning through play. This article reviews the international literature around parental education initiatives (or 'interventions') in early childhood and then considers playgroups as potential sites for parental education. The article identifies the universal features of playgroups that make these sites appealing for the implementation of parental education initiatives and discusses the complexities associated with the design of interventions aimed at meeting the diverse needs of parents attending playgroups. It concludes by providing a case for community playgroups as cultural contexts, to be considered sites for parental education through curriculum aimed at supporting parents to actively engage in their children's learning and development through play.

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From hard to reach to how to reach: A systematic review of the literature on hard-to-reach families

Cited by 106 publications

References 26 publications

Overlooked and under‐served? Promoting service use and engagement among ‘hard‐to‐reach’ populations

Overlooked and under‐served? Promoting service use and engagement among ‘hard‐to‐reach’ populations

Are young fathers “hard to reach”? Understanding the importance of relationship building and service sustainability

Playgroups as sites for parental education

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