United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

Having children is an exciting and all-rounded job and not always easy. Children grow up in different forms of families – with a single mom or dad, in a classical nuclear family or in a "blended family". Because of changes in the working world as well as the change of role models, parents want and need more information and networking. "Parental education" should help people, who live together with children (mothers, fathers, grandparents), to raise their children.

The Federal State Government of Upper Austria wants to support families as good as possible. Parents can refresh their knowledge in courses, workshops, lectures and discussions dealing with this subject and where they can get information on the different development phases of children (childbirth, baby, school age, adolescence), how to handle difficulties with their children and they have the possibility to exchange experiences and discuss problems.
Furthermore, there are events about the relationship between man and woman.

These measures are important and preventive elements: not only repairing the relationship between children and parents, also doing something for your family in advance.

2005, the project was especially initiated for poor families with problems. Poor families often don't have the possibility for further education and the coupons for "Parental education" should encourage them to make use of this offer (courses, workshops and so on dealing with "Parental education").

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
Having children is an exciting and all-rounded job and not always easy. Children grow up in different forms of families – with a single mom or dad, in a classical nuclear family or in a "blended family". Because of changes in the working world as well as the change of role models, parents want and need more information and networking. "Parental education" should help people, who live together with children (mothers, fathers, grandparents), to raise their children. The Federal State Government of Upper Austria wants to support families as good as possible. Parents can refresh their knowledge in courses, workshops, lectures and discussions dealing with this subject and where they can get information on the different development phases of children (childbirth, baby, school age, adolescence), how to handle difficulties with their children and they have the possibility to exchange experiences and discuss problems. Furthermore, there are events about the relationship between man and woman. From 2005 to 2009, poor families with 4 to 6 year old children were the target group (in cohesion with a sponsorship for child care called "Kinderbetreuungsbonus") and got the coupons for "Parental education". In September 2009 this was expanded: all families with children aged under 15, who have the "Upper Austrian Family Card" (~ 160.000 families), get coupons for "Parental education". After the application for the "Upper Austrian Family Card", coupons to the amount of 20 Euros are sent to each family, as well as for the 3rd, 6th and 10th birthday of a child. In courses, workshops, lectures and discussions dealing with "Parental education" these coupons can be converted. Parents as well as the organizations, which offer "Parental education", were interviewed: 2009 a survey showed that "Parental education" is in demand. In 2008, more than 15.000 coupons were converted. In 2009, more than 32.000 coupons were converted and in 2010 about 52.000 coupons, 2011 52.500 coupons. Furthermore, there is a steady rise in the offer of "Parental education". In 2005 about 600 courses were offered and in 2009 about 4.800 different courses. In the year 2010 the online system of the Upper Austrian Family Card offers more than 8.000 courses. Parents who attend these courses, as well as the organizations, which offer "Parental education" benefit from these measures. Parents get new information, they can discuss their problems in upbringing their children, and so on. Families who do not have to do something with "Parental education", are encouraged by the coupons to make use of this offer. Because of the coupons, there are more courses and workshops dealing with this theme. Furthermore, more parents attend these courses and workshops.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
Franz Hiesl, member of the provincial government of Upper Austria, suggested and initiated the project. The project is supported by the Upper Austrian Family Centers, "SPIEGEL-meeting points", family organizations and numerous private initiatives. The supporters of the workshops, courses and so on discount the participation fee after the event with the Federal State Government of Upper Austria. In Upper Austria there are more than 100 "family centers" (contact and information points for parents). They are sponsored by organizations such as "Kinderfreunde" or the Austrian "Familienbund". Parents have the possibility to meet other parents and to engage different offers of "Parental education". The "SPIEGEL-meeting points" (games – groups – Parental education) are another network. They offer Parental education for parents with children aged 0 to 3 years. The groups are initiated and supervised by mothers, who have an appropriate training.

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
From 2005 to 2009, poor families with 4 to 6 year old children were the target group (in cohesion with a sponsorship for child care called "Kinderbetreuungsbonus"). They got coupons for "Parental education". Objective: Poor families very often do not have the possibility to attend courses and the coupons for Parental education should encourage them to make use of this offer. Since September 2009, all families with children aged under 15, who have the "Upper Austrian Family Card" (~ 160.000 families), get coupons for Parental education. After the application for the "Upper Austrian Family Card", coupons to the amount of 20 Euros are sent to each family, as well as for the 3rd, 6th and 10th birthday of a child. In courses, workshops, lectures and discussions dealing with "Parental education" these coupons can be converted. The objective is almost the same: parents should be encouraged to attend courses for Parental education. Parents should do something for their family (preventive).

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
From 2005 to 2009: poor families with 4 to 6 year old children were the target group (in cohesion with a sponsorship for child care called "Kinderbetreuungsbonus"). 2007: The pilot scheme (first version in small scale) was honored with a diploma at the EPSA 2007. 2008: study "The Upper Austrian coupon for Parental education – a support for families" was assigned to STUDIA (study center for international analysis) in Schlierbach, Upper Austria 2009: realization and evaluation of the study; 2.500 questionnaires and 30 interviews with experts – the results were published September 2009: Due to the results of the survey, the group of recipients was enlarged. All families with children aged under 15, who have the "Upper Austrian Family Card" (~ 160.000 families), get coupons for Parental education. After the application for the "Upper Austrian Family Card", coupons to the amount of 20 Euros are sent to each family, as well as for the 3rd, 6th and 10th birthday of a child. To manage the additional work, the staff had to be restructured – but no additional personnel was hired. Online implementation: The idea was born to use encoded coupons in order to provide the possibility to use hand scanners for payment. In 2009, a project team – composed of five persons – was responsible to manage the process. Together with external partners the project was realized. 2010: new online appearance, including a lot of new functions in the module "Parental education" New personal newsletter – fulfilling the needs of the customers (= parents) Prearrangement of the electronic account – test runs – organizations, which offer Parental education were involved to optimize the process – exchange of experiences with the organizations that offer Parental education; testing and installation of the required equipment Ultimate implementation of the online system: Organizations using the system were instructed and Hand scanners (wand scanners) were bought. Since January 1, 2011, the system works in full scale.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
Sometimes it is not easy to separate the workshops and courses. What event can be counted as "Parental education"? Courses are offered by facilities such as parent-child centers, the "Schul- und Erziehungszentrum", the "Katholisches Bildungswerk", parent associations of schools and kindergartens. The organizations are allowed to offer their courses online at our homepage www.familienkarte.at . To avoid that substandard courses are offered, only professional speakers are hired by these organizations for the holding of the courses. The organizations can contact a staff member (Hotline) or the staff member contacts the organizations to clarify which courses and workshops can be considered.

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
Resources: - high quality coupons were printed (safety criteria – the coupons are used as cash) - technical solution: online application on www.familienkarte.at = online promotion - current courses, workshops and so on can be found on the website of the Department for family affairs www.familienkarte.at and in the "OÖ Familienjournal" (Journal is published five times a year) - To manage the additional work, the staff had to be restructured – but no additional personnel was hired. - project team (composed of five persons) - External partners - Hand scanners since January 1, 2011 - The organizations can contact a staff member (Hotline) or the staff member contacts the organizations to clarify which courses and workshops can be considered. Benefits: - New personal newsletter – fulfilling the needs of the customers (= parents) - Online system - The organizations can contact a staff member (Hotline) or the staff member contacts the organizations to clarify which courses and workshops can be considered. - Electronic account – easy access - current courses, workshops and so on can be found on the website of the Department for family affairs www.familienkarte.at and in the "OÖ Familienjournal" (Journal is published five times a year) - Now it is not necessary, that the organizations send the coupons back to the responsible Department - Administrative costs are low for both sides. - In addition, a complete evaluation of the resources is possible.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
The regional organizations offering Parental education are very successful and the success motivates them to offer more courses and workshops in this field. A relief for providers is online application (possible since January 1, 2011). The partners of the Upper Austrian Family Card are provided with hand scanners, so that they can scan the EAN code on the coupons. Thus, the coupons are devaluated and the payment process is settled. Now it is not necessary, that the organizations send the coupons back to the responsible Department. In this way, administrative costs are low for both sides. In addition, a complete evaluation of the resources is possible. Other Austrian provinces are already interested in this topic. On November 25, 2009, the System was presented in Wiesbaden, Hessen (Germany) and in December 2010 the Department for family affairs was awarded with the "Publicus 2010", an award for public administration in the category "Steigerung der Bürgerorientierung" (= increasing public needs).

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
Because of the coupons, there are more courses and workshops dealing with this theme. Furthermore, more parents attend theses courses and workshops. 2009 a survey showed that Parental education is in demand. In 2008, more than 15.000 coupons were converted and in 2009, more than 32.000 coupons were converted and in 2010 about 52.000 coupons. Furthermore, there is a steady rise in the offer of Parental education.


Institution Name:		Federal State Government of Upper Austria
Institution Type:		Public Organization
Contact Person:		Franz Schützeneder
Title:		Head of the Department for family affairs
Telephone/ Fax:		0043-732-7720-11830/0043-732-7720-211639
Institution's / Project's Website:		www.familienkarte.at
E-mail:		andrea.leutgeb@ooe.gv.at
Address:		Bahnhofplatz 1
Postal Code:		4021
City:		Linz
State/Province:		Upper Austria
Country:		Austria

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information