The Buddy programme at Presbyterian Support Southland Child & Family Service

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate who was being referred to the Buddy Programme to determine the types of issues they were referred for, and to evaluate whether the Buddy Programme delivered by Presbyterian Support Southland Child and Family Service was addressing the issues for which the children were referred. Further to this, the study was to provide information as to whether the methods used to evaluate the progress of the children were adequate or not in providing specific information.

A 14% sample of all closed Little Buddy files over the first 5 years the programme was in operation were selected (16 of 115) cases. The sample was taken randomly by selecting those that had both a "Little Buddy Referral" form (Appendix 1) and at least one yearly review form "Buddy Programme Questionnaire for Parents/caregivers" (Appendix 2). The purpose was to provide self reporting from a parent/caregiver perspective. Further information was gathered by analysing the notes on the files entered by the programme staff. These notes were based on their own observations, as well as information received from parentis or caregiver/s, little buddy and the big buddy.

A list of information required was formulated using the aims of the study. This information was then analysed using thematic coding and statistical analysis including the use of frequency distributions, means and standard deviations. The data was entered into the Statistical Package for Social Services - SPSS (version 12), (2003).

The results of the study provided a clear picture of the types of children referred to the programme and the issues they were referred for. There was statistical evidence to show that the programme was an effective intervention for a significant number of children. 63% of parents reported that the issues the children were referred for had been addressed.

However, the study also raised further recommendations for consideration as to the day to day operation of the programme, and from the perspective of future longitudinal research.