family information direct

You may have already used 'Family Information Direct' before, when it was called ‘The Parent Know How Programme’. The service is provided by the Department for Schools, Families and Children (DCSF). For the last 2 years DCFS have been asking parents, families and carers about the sort of information that they find most helpful when bringing up children. For example, some people prefer to go out and meet other careers and some prefer to make a quick phone call or look information up on-line.

‘Family Information Direct’ can be used by anyone in England who has a caring responsibility for children and it works like other pinpoint services by providing different help for different careers including dads, parents of disabled children and lone parents.

The phone helpline services include advice about education and legal issues as well as support for children and young people with disabilities or emotional issues.

Some of the new on-line services being trialled include:

• www.begrand.net- A website providing information, advice and support for grandparents, as well as a community where they can find friends and share ideas and problems.

• www.parentchannel.tv- A website containing videos that support parenting issues, produced by family-facing organisations.

For more information about all of the services visit the ‘Family Information Direct’ website. You can also visit the ‘Support’ section on pinpoint website where we have included details of some of the services for dad’s, grandparents and parents of disabled children.’