Life can be full of challenges for young parents. To help them manage, Ontario Works’ Learning, Earning, and Parenting (LEAP) program provides support to people between the ages of 16 and 25 who already have children by helping them finish high school, achieve sustainable employment and become independent and self-reliant.

However, some 60 percent of the young adults in the LEAP program who graduate from high school each year don’t plan to continue their education at a post-secondary institution, a choice that can affect their employment options for the rest of their lives. Durham College worked together with the continuing education division of Durham District School Board and The Regional Municipality of Durham Social Services Department on an intervention developed and piloted to gain insight into the LEAP participants’ perception of post-secondary education.

Eighteen young parents registered in the study and were surveyed before and after the intervention program on their perceptions of post-secondary education. Two Durham College students were hired as research assistants.

The intervention program took the participants on campus tours and offered workshops and in-class activities as well as a range of multi-disciplinary supports and services. Each participant had the opportunity to work with a supportive coach to develop a transition plan for entering post-secondary education.

“I have had the privilege to work in collaboration with colleagues from Durham College’s Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship and School of Health and Community Services several times,” said Dr. Darren Levine, manager of the Innovation and Research Unit in the Regional Municipality of Durham’s Social Services Department. “Each collaboration has focused on enhancing students’ learning, while strengthening community services and driving local social innovation.”

The research showed that after the intervention program, the young parents had fewer concerns about post-secondary programs, increased certainty about academic and employment outcomes, and greater confidence in their ability to enter and succeed in a post-secondary program. More of the young parents in the program said they might pursue post-secondary education after they had been through the program.

As a result of the research, a permanent program was introduced. Young parents who are clients of the Durham’s LEAP program now have access to a dual-credit program while they’re completing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements to help ease the transition from high school to college.

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It’s a paradox of social work that services aimed at helping people get back on their feet and living independent lives have traditionally been “delivered” to them. Their needs are assessed by others, what’s best for them is determined by policies decided far from their day-to-day reality and individual circumstances.

However, that’s starting to change, with a new approach known as “co-production” a social innovation where the service provider becomes a catalyst and facilitator rather than the key provider of services. The need for services is not determined by a provider, rather, professionals, and the people and families being served work together in an equal and reciprocal manner to decide what’s best. Co-production recognizes knowledge gained from personal experience as equally as important as professional expertise in understanding what an individual or family requires.

It’s no small thing to shift from the traditional model to co-production; however, such a profound change in the delivery model requires careful research and planning. For that reason, the Region of Durham Social Services Department staff and Durham College’s faculty and students in the Social Service Worker program did a literature review and environmental scan, interviewing community leaders for insights and perspectives on how co-production has been used to facilitate the delivery of social programs.

Their report explored how co-production is defined, its history, and the benefits. It also reviewed challenges and barriers experienced where co-production is already in use.

The project found that while there are professional, organizational, and evaluation challenges to implementing co-production, outcomes improve for social programs, and services become more cost-effective. It also found individuals feel empowered and experience a greater sense of ownership when they are part of the service delivery process.

Four leaders whose organizations have adopted co-production were interviewed as well. They agreed there is neither a single definition of co-production nor a one-size-fits-all model. They described it as a continuum of practices and a range of activities that share key features, including recognizing the knowledge, skills and expertise of those who use services, and including service users in all aspects of service delivery.

As co-production continues to be applied to a range of public services, there will be a need for more research to understand the model and the circumstances that increase the likelihood of its success. The Region of Durham Social Services Department is an ideal site for a future pilot project focused on co-production.

About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby, Ont. along with a learning site in Pickering, the college offers... Learn more