Supporting the creation of an IME Parents' Association - identifying their needs and understanding their priorities – ACAPULCO

As part of its 2020-2025 facility project, and in response to the need for inclusive support in line with the major transformations promoted by the “Accompanied response for all” approach to public policy, the Children's Unit of the IME-SESSAD La Source de Semblançay (Indre et Loire, 37) wanted to create a resource service dedicated to caregiver support for the Pays Loire Nature territory. This initiative is part of a wider drive to promote an inclusive approach and strengthen cooperation between the various players involved in supporting people with disabilities. It is in this context that the ACAPULCO project was co-constructed, with the aim of developing a comprehensive approach to inclusion and support, aimed at creating an environment conducive to the harmonious development of disabled children, while supporting caregivers in their role. The creation of a space for discussion and exchange of experience (association) meets a need expressed by family carers of children with mental health problems, as well as by the professionals who support them. The aim of this project, by encouraging mutual help and support, is to offer significant benefits to family carers, notably in terms of mental well-being, reducing stress and feelings of isolation, and strengthening parenting skills.
More specifically, while caregivers' involvement in a self-help scheme is perceived as positive, there is currently little evidence to support this postulate, and even less data to shed light on the processes at work in this involvement and the maintenance of members' commitment in the short and medium term.
The ACAPULCO project aims to support the co-construction of a support system for family carers of users of an IME, in order to offer them a space adapted to their needs. Based on the dialogue method, and encouraging broad participation by family carers and professionals, it will identify the needs and priorities of these families. The study will cover a total period of 18 months (six months dedicated to the preparatory phase and twelve months to post-creation observation and analysis). It will be carried out in partnership with players from the medico-social, associative and academic sectors, as part of a collaborative and participative approach from conception to completion of the project.
By developing a better understanding of the benefits of association membership for family carers, this study will provide valuable knowledge for improving support practices and public policies in favour of carers and the people they support. It will also inductively generate a comprehensive model of the costs and benefits associated with membership of an association for carers of IME users.