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THE SCIENCE BEHIND PEER SUPPORT AND RELEVANCY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps
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Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Dec 24, 2015

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Page 1: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

THE SCIENCE BEHINDPEER SUPPORT AND RELEVANCY FOR EARLY CHILDHOODDr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work

Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps

Page 2: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Parent mutual support …

Involves voluntary parent-to-parent interactionIs peer-to-peerIs reciprocalIs nonjudgmental Occurs in diverse ways (groups, one-on-one, electronically, other ways)

Theoretical Foundation for Parent Mutual Support

Page 3: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Self help Social support Natural helping networks Trained parent helping “needy” parent Parent education or skills development

Parental mutual support is not simply…

Page 4: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Can be learned

Requires facilitation at first, by trained peer leaders

Parent mutual support ..

Page 5: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Formal family services may help parents cope, learn, heal, nurture, and manage in many ways;

But when formal parenting programs are done and gone…

Parental mutual support and self-help are all there is.

How do we best strengthen families’ capacity to help themselves and one another?

Page 6: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

The value of parent mutual support has solid theoretical grounding, e.g.:

social ecology and systems theory, cultural sensitivity, family strengthening, social learning, self-determination and empowerment, and reciprocity and collective efficacy.

Source: Andrews, AB. (2014). Addressing Child Maltreatment through Mutual Support and Self-Help Among Parents. In Korbin, J., & Krugman, R. (Eds.) (pp. 411-429). Handbook of child maltreatment. NY: Springer.

Page 7: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Social environment: Individual, family, community, organizations, policies

“Chronosystem’: Time – people change, mature – needs & assets change

Systems change, adapt, positively and negatively – parts of the system, ie., various parents in it, are changing together

Mutual support helps parents adapt positively

Social ecology

Page 8: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Parents learn to be parents within their various cultures

Historically, parents highly value mutual support within their culture, particularly when they have faced oppression

Cultural Sensitivity

Page 9: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Mutual support does not assume a parent has deficits and needs improvement

Mutual support acknowledges risk but focuses on assets Parent mutual support becomes an asset, available when

the parent needs it – not as confined to schedules and limited interactions as formal services

Higher levels of parental support are associated with lower levels of parental stress, ineffective parenting, and child difficulties (McConnell et al. 2011). With support, families are stronger.

Family Strengthening

Page 10: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Parents still report, when they interact with service workers, they are often excluded or treated as objects in need of correction. They feel an imbalance of power between service worker and parent.

Parents report the mutual support relationship is a safe place to share pain or distress without fear of sanctions. They find hope, acceptance, and belonging (Davidson et al. 1999, Hogan et al. 2002).

Self-determination and empowerment

Page 11: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Social learning theory predicts – and research confirms – people learn from one another and become open to new ideas.

When parent learn in the context of mutual support, they are more likely to retain new knowledge and practice new skills (Dunst et al. 1994).

Social Learning

Page 12: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Peer mutual support among parents often leads to… personal transformation development of advocacy and empowerment skills. (Kurtz, 1990)

Parents who help one another report the benefits of mutual aid – they feel

◦ joy in sharing, ◦ faith in strengths, ◦ courage to accept and stay in the mess and chaos of mutual aid, ◦ and curiosity to seek and understand diverse views and feelings.

[Steinberg, 1997; 2010]

Reciprocity and Collective Efficacy

Page 13: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Parental mutual support groups (distinct from professionally-led parent support groups or training) can…

reduce child maltreatment and juvenile delinquency (Polinsky et al. 2010, Nelson et al. 2001) and,

for parents in the child welfare system, promote◦ self-esteem, ◦ confidence, ◦ less reliance on services, ◦ fewer child placements, and ◦ agency savings (Budde & Schene 2004, Cameron 2002, Cameron & Birnie-Lefcovitch 2000, Thompson 1995).

Research indicates:

Page 14: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Parent leaders who support one another and participate in service system system governance leads to enhanced …

client commitment, program relevance, and positive child and family outcomes (Andrews et al. 2003, Buck et al.

2004, Cunningham et al. 1999, McAllister & Walsh 2004, Taub et al. 2001, Resendez et al. 2000).

Research indicates:

Page 15: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Formal parent leader training is necessary but rarely sufficient to produce effective parent leaders.

Trained parent leaders who sustain their leadership are likely to have engaged, mutually supportive relationships with one another (Polinsky 2007).

Page 16: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

The professionals might ask: “Will you help me understand how you and your friends and family support one another?”

“How may I partner with you to strengthen your support?”

We need research conducted through the lens of parents

Page 17: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

ONLY EVIDENCE BASED PARENT SUPPORT GROUP PROGRAM MODEL IN THE COUNTRY

Evidenced based to measurably strengthen a caregivers protective factors ,decrease the likelihood of future child maltreatment, and reduce impact of adverse childhood experiences

Since 1979, “Parents who participate in a PA program, regardless of whatever other services were being provided, were much more likely to have their problems resolved than clients who did not participate”

Cohn, 1979, P.495

The Parents Anonymous® Model

Page 18: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

HISTORY, MISSION, AND RESEARCH ONTHE PARENTS

ANONYMOUS® PROGRAM MODEL

LEARNING COMPETENCY #1

Page 19: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

HISTORY, LEGACY AND PROMISE Started in 1969 by a courageous and tenacious mother, Jolly K.

with Leonard Leiber, Social Worker

Child in foster care

Frustrated with traditional therapy

Developed mutual support and shared leadership® model

Testified in Congress about her personal journey

Inspired millions all around the world

Launched a worldwide Network

Interviewed in the LA Times, Life Magazine , 60 Minutes and Nightline

Original Parent Leader

Page 20: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Recognize the value and expertise of Parent Leaders

Advocate and model shared leadership® between parents, agencies and policy makers to ensure evidence-based results that benefit families

Advance an innovative conceptual framework and ambitious research agenda on Parent Leadership and Shared Leadership®

that promote the strengthening of families and communities

Since 1969, Parents Anonymous® Inc. is the first international family strengthening organization to:

Page 21: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

National Parent Helpline® (1-855-427-2736)Training and Certification of Parents to participate at governance, management and service delivery level within the system of careState Parent Leadership Team/ National Parent Leadership Team formed from Parent Group Leaders in GroupsShared Leadership® in Action for Agencies/OrganizationsJolly K. AwardsState Parent Leadership Month in February Stand with Families Campaign – preserving the family voice advocacy campaign in August of 2015

FamilyCorpsParents Anonymous® Initiatives

Page 22: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.
Page 23: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Evidence based to increase Protective Factors

Page 24: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

The 2007 National Outcome Study of Parents Anonymous® conducted by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice.

◦Reduced Child Maltreatment Outcomes

◦Reduced Risk Factors

◦ Increased Protective Factors

PA IS AN EVIDENCED BASED PROGRAM

Page 25: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Reduced Child Maltreatment Outcomes◦73% of Parents Decreased Their Parenting Distress

◦65% of Parents Decreased Their Parent Rigidity◦56% of Parents Reduced Use of Psychological Aggression Towards Their Children

◦For Parents Who Reported Using Physical Aggression,

◦83% Stopped Physically Abusing Their Children

Findings

Page 26: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Increased Protective Factors◦67% of Parents Improved Their Quality of Life◦For Parents Starting Out Needing Improvement: 90% Improved in Emotional and Instrumental Support

88% Improved in Parenting Sense of Competence 84% Improved in General Social Support 69% Improved in Use of Non-Violent Discipline Tactics

• 67%Improved in Family Functioning

Findings

Page 27: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Reduced Risk Factors◦86% of the High Stressed Parents Reduced Their Parental Stress

◦71% of Parents Reduced Their Life Stressors

◦40% of Parents Reduced Any Form of Domestic Violence

◦32% of Parents Reduced Their Drug/Alcohol Use

Findings

Page 28: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Baseline of Survey: Due to the time frame involved, participants were surveyed if they met the

following criteria:◦ Participant was a SCDSS referred adult attendee within Charleston

County ◦ Participant attended a minimum of 6 weeks of Parents Anonymous®

Parenting Support ◦ At least 12 months time had passed since Participant’s first group

meeting attended Of the 85 adults who attended a PA Group within Charleston County over

the past 12 months, 46 of those adults met all three criteria above. Of the 46 meeting criteria, 37 attendees were located and surveys were completed (80% relevant population surveyed).

Parents Anonymous® 2014 Evaluation Outcomes in Charleston County (sample evaluation conducted for SCDSS)

Page 29: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Of the 37, 35 (94.5%) reported that the facilitator for Parents Anonymous® navigated them to services that they addressed voluntarily, and included :

Mental health (19 Participants) Legal assistance (31 Participants) Wrap around services (26 Participants) Triple P (17 Participants) Concrete Needs met, such as food bank or clothing (25

Participants)

Significant Results of 2014 Evaluation

Page 30: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Of the 37 surveyed, 16 (43%) had an Open DSS case when they first attended and their children were already removed from the home when first attended.

Of the 16, reunification of children into their home occurred in

15 (94%) out of 16 cases◦ 3 (19%) participants had children reunified by the 6th week of PA attendance◦ 6 (38%) participants had children reunified by 3 months of PA attendance◦ 4 (25%) participants had children reunified by 6 months of PA attendance◦ 2 (12.5%) participants had children reunified between 6 and 12 months of PA

attendance

SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OF 2014 EVALUATION

Page 31: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Of the 16 Participants with an open DSS case whose children were removed at their first meeting of PA and who attended a minimum of 6 weeks of PA,

the number of participants who had any further allegations of abuse and/or neglect was ZERO (0) 12 months following their first group meeting.

SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OF 2014 EVALUATION

Page 32: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Of the 37 surveyed, 31 were unaware of the protective factors and how they affect a child’s wellbeing prior to attending the support group

100% showed improvement in all parental protective factors after attending six weeks of the program

Protective Factors

Page 33: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

How does Parents Anonymous transform a parent in crisis to a parent advocate?

THE FOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?

“THEORY OF CHANGE” WHO IS FACILITATING?? ROLE OF THE FACILITATOR AND PARENT GROUP

LEADER

Learning Competency #2

Page 34: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

EVERY PARENT IN GROUP IS CONSIDERED A PARENT LEADER!

IN ORDER FOR PARENTS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY THEIR OWN PROBLEMS THEY MUST FIRST BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS!

AS PARENTS BEGIN TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS, THEY NATURALLY BEGIN TO ASSIST OTHER PARENTS AND ACT AS ROLE MODELS IN THE GROUP!

Principle #1 : Parent Leadership

Page 35: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

MUTUAL SUPPORT IS THE GIVING AND GETTING OF SUPPORT

GIVING OF SUPPORT IS THE MORE SIGNIFICANT HEALING FACTOR!

HELPER THEORY: THROUGH THE ACT OF HELPING, THE HELPER GETS HEALED AND ILLUSTRATES COMPETENCE

** RECENT STUDY: MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS TEACHING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS TO READ**

SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED IN MY SHOES; SOMEONE JUST LIKE ME! REDUCES ISOLATION ; NOT ALONE; REDUCES RESISTANCE TO ADVICE/INFORMATION

PRINCIPAL NUMBER TWO:MUTUAL (PEER TO PEER) SUPPORT

Page 36: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

• Parents and Facilitator build a successful partnership to share responsibility, expertise and leadership roles

• Parents are resources for each other and the facilitator is a resource for the group – no heirarchy

• Each group identifies a Parent Group Leader to share in leading the group

PRINCIPLE NUMBER THREE:SHARED LEADERSHIP

Page 37: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Commitment leading to participation, growth and change.1

2 Regular participation in the group and a sense of commitment and belonging.

3Exposure to other parents who demonstrate leadership behaviors and are acknowledged as leaders.

4 Recognition of the need to take action.

5 Encouragement from others who view the parents as a leader

6 Taking action.

7Receiving positive feedback and support from trusted others who ‘mirror back’ the strengths and leadership skills displayed in earlier actions.

8Continuing to take action and to receive supportive feedback.

9 Growing stronger and more confident as a leader.

10 Becoming a role model for other parents.

Principle Number 4:Personal Growth and

Change

© 2014 Parents Anonymous® Inc. Research Profile Pathways to Parent Leadership: 10 Steps to Success37

Day 1

Page 38: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Groups lead by Trained Facilitator in shared leadership with Parent Group Leader

All attendees are considered parent leaders Concurrent children’s groups for children over 3 Childcare always available Near Public Transportation Stigma free location Nonjudgmental environment Strength based throughout program

let’s talk about…What Groups Look Like?

Page 39: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

Many not ready to participate in a curriculum Need to express their concern, vet frustration Need Navigation to other resources, like housing/food/clothing

(hierarchy of needs) before ready to digest curriculum Navigated when ready to address certain parenting skill or family skill deficits to evidence

based curriculum also available

Peer to Peer Support Unique Shared experiences – Just like me!! Credible messengers!! Helper Theory builds competence – research shows “giving help heals” Shared Leadership teaches self advocacy – role of the Parent Group Leader Ongoing Positive Support Readily Available and Free (Come into group any week)

Cost effective program model – less than $5,000 a year per group making them sustainable

let’s talk about…Parent Support vs Curriculums

Page 40: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

*Every Caregiver or Youth who enters a group is considered a leader in the group

* One Group Leader selected from attendees is appointed in every parent and youth support group and in shared leadership assist with running the group with guidance of the trained facilitator who is a professional

*The role of the group leader rotates and does not remain stagnant

*Parent Group Leaders who have a lived experience with a child with a behavioral, mental, emotional, developmental, or substance abuse issue is offered the opportunity to attend additional training to become a Parent Peer Support Provider of more intensive one on one family services

*Other Parent Group Leaders are trained to serve as parent voices on boards, committees, and in other leadership roles in their communities and at the state level through our accredited Parent Leadership Training

let’s talk about…Parent/Youth Group Leaders

Page 41: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

• Professional Experience working with families in crisis • Background: Sled/ DSS/ Referenced checked• Strength based, nonjudgmental, and compassionate• Culturally Competent

• Trained in PA Program Model, including Children and Youth Workers

• Trained to correct misinformation shared• Trained to identify resources needed and navigate members to

resources : Natural “Sparkplugs”• Trained as Brokers to Trauma Informed Behavior Therapy

Who is Facilitating?

Page 42: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

64 Groups in 30 counties Any caregiver of a child welcome to attend Always have a concurrent children’s group Speciality groups include, father only, teen parent, djj

groups, grandparents raising grandchildren

All groups are always free of charge!

www.family-corps.org blue parent referral button (843) 747-0480

Where are we?

Page 43: Dr. Arlene Andrews, Professor Emeritas, USC School of Social Work Lisa Potts Kirchner, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, FamilyCorps.

“ASKING FOR HELP IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH!”

Q & A