1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of this research was to document the impacts of community outreach work for children and families in vulnerable circumstances in the Eastern Townships, Quebec (Canada). Codeveloped with an advisory committee, specific aims were to: [d]escribe community outreach workers’ practices [and to] document the perceived impacts of such practice on the overall development of children aged 0 to 5 years and families from vulnerable circumstances.» (p. 2)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
The authors «used an exploratory, multisource, qualitative design […], gathering and analyzing three sources of qualitative data: [….] scientific articles and gray literature (n=55 documents; e.g. community journals, activity reports, reference frameworks), […] individual interviews (n=24), and […] focus groups (n=3). […] Four groups of participants were recruited: [c]ommunity outreach workers, [p]arents receiving outreach support, [h]ealthcare employees, and [i]nter-sectoral partners (e.g. community organizations, early childhood centers, and municipal services collaborating with outreach workers […]).» (p. 3) Participants reside in the Eastern Townships (Quebec).

Instruments :
- Guide d’entretien semi-directif
- Guide d’entretien de groupe

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Results were consistent between all data sources. [The] results show that community outreach workers can effectively reach families and children with social challenges and needs […]. Outreach workers establish trusting relationships with parents, helping families to identify their needs and providing them with a social safety net. Their interventions have indirect impacts on the children, through worker support of the parents. Results showed that through parental empowerment, and increased social capital and access to services, parents become better able to take care of their children and more confident to do so. Community outreach workers actions also have a direct impact on families, by reducing isolation between their children and the community. Through these direct and indirect activities parents are able to enhance their supportive social circle. By virtue of their role in the community, outreach workers work in an environment that has several advantages over the traditional healthcare system. They are able to establish a relationship between individuals and the different organizations providing services in the community because they work within a context with flexibility, flexibility that is not always present for workers in healthcare organizations. Flexibility seems to be a key factor in developing relationships with families in vulnerable contexts […].» (p. 8-9)