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Nobody’s Perfect Manitoba
Outcome Evaluation
Highlights of the Final Report
September 2002
Prepared for
Manitoba Nobody’s Perfect Advisory Committee
Prepared by
Leskiw and Associates
Nobody's Perfect Provincial Office
Youville Centre
6-845 Dakota Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2M 5M3
Tel: (204) 231-3208
Fax: (204) 231-8213
e-mail: [email protected]
Acknowledgements
The level of cooperation experienced in conducting this evaluation was impressive.
From the staff and advisory committee members of the program, to the agencies and their
members that shared their thoughts, impressions and insights. The response rate was truly
remarkable and reflected the solid reputation of the Nobody’s Perfect program
throughout Manitoba.
Leskiw and Associates would like to acknowledge and thank the agencies, their staff and
their community members who assisted in this work:
Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, Inc.
Head Start program and Abinotci Mino-Ayawin Program
Andrews Street Family Centre
Carman Family Resource Centre
Child and Family Resource Centre, Cranberry Portage
Children for the Future Aboriginal Head Start Program, Swan River
Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre, Brandon
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Adolescent Parent Support Program.
Manitoba Youth Centre
Native Women’s Transition Centre
North Eastman Health Association
Selkirk Friendship Centre Day Care
St. George Parenting Centre
Taking Charge! Taking Care!
Villa Rosa
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Wolseley Family Place
This report reflects your words, your thoughts, and your experiences.
Thank you, once again.
Chris Leskiw
Deb Dyck
Nobody’s Perfect
Highlights of the Final Evaluation Report
September 2002
Background
The Nobody’s Perfect programming is a primary parent / caregiver support and capacity
building service. It seeks to increase confidence, skills, knowledge and support of, and for,
parents.
The program’s formally stated goal is: “To improve parents’ capabilities to maintain and
promote the health of their 0-5 year old children using a primary prevention approach, based
on the premise that, by the time children are five years of age, they have learned most of the
health values, attitudes and behaviour they will carry throughout life.”
Nobody’s Perfect is overseen, in Manitoba, by an Advisory Committee of representatives of
government and non-government agencies. A Provincial Coordinator provides coordination
and management.
Methodology and Approach
The required format for the evaluation has been determined to be outcome based. The term
outcome is equated to change. Therefore, the primary intent of the evaluation has been to
identify and describe the changes that parents and caregivers experience as a result of
participation in the program (relative to their capacity to care for their children). Further, the
assessment sought to identify the extent to which elements and factors within Nobody’s
Perfect are seen to be contributors to positive change.
This evaluation format also recognizes that change or progression occurs in small steps, at
different times, and at different rates, dependent on the capacity and experiences of each of
the participants. The evaluation’s intent is not to determine if all participants have
experienced the same level and type of results, but rather, to determine if overall progress is
being achieved, and, the extent to which the work of the program has contributed to this
progression.
The approach used by Leskiw and Associates has been participatory in nature, involving those
that are most intimately involved with the programming. An emphasis of time and resources
has been placed on gathering information from parents, facilitators that deliver the program,
and agencies and support persons that work directly with the families.
Information was gathered through four methods, including: discussion circles (focus groups),
written surveys of past participants, Pre and Post participation surveys, and telephone and inperson interviews.
Over the term of the evaluation, a total of (167) individuals contributed their input and
commentary to the assessment. It is important to note that the response rate from agencies
and individuals and the level of cooperation was extremely high for assessments of this
nature. The consultants were aided in their tasks by the evident respect that agencies have for
the program, thereby facilitating cooperation and responsiveness.
Leskiw and Associates
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Nobody’s Perfect
Highlights of the Final Evaluation Report
September 2002
Findings
As has been noted above, outcome evaluations recognize that change occurs as a series of
small steps within individuals and families. Therefore, the resulting changes within parents
and families have been described in terms of a number of sequential outcomes:
Developing a basic understanding of ‘parenting’
Participation in the Nobody’s Perfect programming results
in changes in the ways that participants view parenting,
providing them with a basic understanding of what it entails,
and what their responsibilities are.
“…it's important not to
feel guilty about the
past.”
“…it's OK to ask. Nobody
judges, and nobody has
to be perfect.”
Eliminating barriers to learning
Nobody’s Perfect succeeds in eliminating barriers to
learning, thereby facilitating changes in parenting
approaches and openness to learning more about working at
being a parent.
Building capacity through knowledge
Strong and nearly universal consensus is evident, that
Nobody’s Perfect provides the information, tools and skills
to equip parents and caregivers, building their individual and
parental capacity to care for their children, significantly
exceeding parental expectations.
“I’m more of a steady
parent, not a teeter-totter
parent.”
“Parents' needs are
prioritized – everyone
gets their input.”
“I know now not to hit…I
know not to take off.”
Becoming stronger through learning
“My children would say
that I am not yelling as
much, and I laugh more.”
Parents become stronger and more confident, better able to
cope with situations and nurture their children through the
skills and supports obtained through Nobody’s Perfect.
“I am a stronger person,
not just a stronger
parent.”
Program Contributions to Positive Change
There are a number of factors and features within Nobody’s Perfect that illustrate how it
contributes to positive changes in parents / caregivers and families. Many of these relate to
the process used for its delivery, while several focus on content and the structures under
which it operates.
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Nobody’s Perfect
Highlights of the Final Evaluation Report
September 2002
Briefly stated, the following describes those factors that most directly contribute to the
program’s impact:
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Nobody’s Perfect (NP) acts in a non-threatening and non-judgemental manner.
Attachments to stable, supportive and nurturing agencies.
Holding sessions in groups reduces the sense of personal isolation, facilitates peer
support and builds recognition that parental capacity building is a good thing that is
needed by all parents.
NP provides a framework that enables delivery to be adapted to the style of each
agency / individual.
Three most important features of NP are: the discussions (88%), the topics (79%),
and the skills of the facilitators (51%).
The books and reference materials are highly valued.
A recognition that there are a multitude of ways to become stronger parents and to
address situations within their families.
The materials provide a framework that can be adapted as needed.
The facilitator training is viewed as generally being of high quality, providing both
the materials as well as the facilitation skills.
Updates of information to facilitators as well as periodic conferences or ways of
sharing information and experiences are also seen to be valuable.
Overall, the program operates effectively by providing a well-designed, informed and
comprehensive structure and materials for parental skill development. The flexibility of the
programming along with the facilitator training are seen as providing the means to aid
delivery.
Program Strengths
In summary, the following statements can be made with respect to the overall strengths of the
Nobody’s Perfect programming:

By providing a comprehensive framework of materials and enabling and equipping
facilitators with the skills to deliver it, the program is capable of adapting to a broad
variety of situations and is appropriate for a wide range of audiences.

The variety of activities and topics in the materials accommodates different
learning styles, and provides value to a greater number of participants. Enabling
participants’ opportunities to focus in certain areas stimulates ownership of the
materials and the knowledge that is gained.

Content and the breadth of topic areas are seen to provide the basic understandings
of parenting, thereby facilitating further learning and skill development with the
tools that are provided. The comprehensiveness of what can be learned through the
programming gives participants greater competence and confidence.

Giving participants the books (free) enables them to refer back and to use again and
again. This serves to reinforce learning beyond the term of the program sessions.
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Nobody’s Perfect
Highlights of the Final Evaluation Report
September 2002
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The group setting and the facilitation of group discussions support the need to
learn and the opportunities to learn from one another. In this manner the learning
process is stronger and support connections are often developed.
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The materials are seen to be strong, simple and direct. They present information and
examples and do not judge participants.
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The content is learner friendly, providing flexibility to go ‘where the group wants to
go’, thereby working with a wide range of participants.
Summary and Conclusions
Overall, Nobody’s Perfect has shown itself to be an effective and valued means of increasing
parental capacity within Manitoba. It is generally seen to be appropriate for most parents,
particularly those that are younger, less experienced and in greater need of information and
support.
The program works to motivate and reduce the stigma of asking for parenting help and to
build recognition that parenting is learned. Through the materials and facilitation that exists,
parents and caregivers develop a stronger understanding of what parenting involves, what
approaches are available, and what to expect from being a parent.
As the course progresses, participants gain skills and tools to resolve issues, to listen and talk
with their children, and to understand the different cues and needs of their children. As a
result, parent child relations are stronger, parents are less frustrated and more confident in
their abilities, and are applying new problem solving approaches. Home situations are less
tense and parents report that they enjoy being a parent more. Parents believe that their
children also see them differently.
The facilitator training and the comprehensive and flexible nature of the programming are
seen to be key strengths. The materials are well organized, cover a broad range of topics that
meet the expectations of the participants, and remain with the participants to reinforce further
learning.
Opportunities to strengthen the impact and effectiveness of the program revolve around
efforts to support the facilitators that deliver Nobody’s Perfect. Enhancing the materials,
examples and experiences of a committed group of facilitators and support agencies will
continue to enhance the capacity of the program to serve.
Finally, it is interesting to note why individual participants come to take Nobody’s Perfect.
While the majority seek help to become stronger parents, or to learn how to solve problems,
(expectations that the program clearly meets) a significant number also indicate that they had
heard about the positive reputation of the program. This is particularly true in non-Winnipeg
settings, where reputation in smaller communities is very important. Given the findings of
this assessment, the reputation is obviously well deserved.
Leskiw and Associates
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