Strengthening children's resilience through parenting: a pilot study
Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities
ISSN: 0964-1866
Article publication date: 29 November 2013
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to describe the research literature on the science of children's resilience and show its application to parenting interventions for high-risk families. Information about the design and conduct of pilot work to develop a parent program with homeless mothers was included to illustrated this application.
Design/methodology/approach
The design of this report was descriptive. The scientific rationale for promoting children's resilience. The scientific rationale for strengthening children's resilience by focusing on parent's promotion of attachment, executive function skills, and stress/reduction mindfulness was detailed, and the design and format of a pilot parent program was outlined.
Findings
Substantial research evidence affirmed the importance of strengthening children's resilience in high-risk families. Details from pilot work with homeless mothers illustrated the process by which activities were included in workshops to promote children's resilience. Future work will test the efficacy of this program in a controlled study with a range of pre- and post-assessments.
Practical implications
The current paper expanded the traditional focus of parent education to include strengthening children's resilience as a way to better address the myriad of critical needs faced by children and families experiencing homelessness.
Originality/value
The design and format of a community-based parenting program to strengthen children's resilience by focusing on attachment, executive function skills, and stress reduction/mindfulness were novel. Future research will test the efficacy of this new program with high-risk families.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support, generosity, and compassion shown to them by the families and staff at the homeless shelters, community centers, temporary group residences, and transitional housing sites where they piloted the workshops. Their feedback and discussions, especially about community and cultural issues, have been invaluable and inspiring. This project was supported by a faculty grant provided to Dr Barbara M. Burns by the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, USA.
Citation
M. Burns, B., D. Haynes, L., Bauer, A., Shetty, A., Mendoza, J., Fregoso, F., Strong, K. and Arellano, B. (2013), "Strengthening children's resilience through parenting: a pilot study", Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 121-131. https://doi.org/10.1108/TC-07-2013-0020
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited