Family Partnership Research Articles

Engaging in emotional and cultural work: Migrant mothers’ experiences of school-based sexuality education

Objective: By looking at the school-based sexuality education experiences of migrant mothers in Tiohtià:ke-Montréal (Canada), this article aims to shed light on the diverse and often invisible ways in which parents become involved in their child’s sexuality education. Method: Qualitative virtual asynchronous focus groups. Results: The findings shed light on the different ways in which migrant mothers become engaged in their children’s sexuality education. The results showed that participants engaged with cultural perspectives by discussing sexuality education topics with their child, thereby mitigating the power imbalance between themselves and the school by building on the parent–child relationship. Mothers also made their voices heard by actively becoming involved in change. Conclusion: Aligned with the principles of culturally responsive education and school–family partnership, the analysis and discussion raise awareness about the limitations of existing school-based sexuality education curricula, particularly when it comes to recognising and empowering parents as primary educators. Moving forward, the research urges educational institutions and actors to learn from the challenges faced by migrant parents and the strategies they employ. This learning can then be used to inform the development of school-based sexuality education curricula and policies so as to ensure that they are more responsive to the needs of migrant students and families.

Social Support Networks and Faculty Motivation: Insights from Tribhuvan University

Study examines the topic of “Social Support Networks and faculty Motivation." The research aims to shed light on the significant factors influencing teachers' motivation within the context of Tribhuvan University. The study employed a quantitative research design, collecting data from a sample of teaching Faculty within the university. The study utilizes regression analysis to show the impact of four variables on the motivation levels of teaching faculty. SPSS 26 was used to analyze the data. The study revealed that family support and faculty-parent collaboration have a strong positive impact on faculty motivation. On the other hand, faculty -community relations and social recognition of faculty had less significant effects. These findings emphasize the importance of family encouragement and partnerships between faculty and parents in boosting faculty motivation. The study suggests that focusing on family support networks and improving teacher-parent cooperation can be effective ways to enhance faculty motivation in Tribhuvan University. Novelty: This research provides a new perspective i.e. Social Recognition, Faculty Community Relation, Faculty Parent Relation, and Family Support by studying the factors that influence faculty motivation specifically at Tribhuvan University.

Patient, family, and community factors associated with medication adherence among people with hypertension or diabetes: A cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundWhile suboptimal medication adherence remains an obstacle to the management of hypertension and diabetes in China, few studies have investigated associated factors with medication adherence on different dimensions simultaneously. ObjectiveTo systematically examine associated patient, family, and community factors with suboptimal medication adherence among people with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes in China. MethodsThe study stratified a random sample of 622 adults aged 45 years or older with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes from three southeast cities in China in 2019. Trained interviewers used the Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale, Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease (SEMCD) Scale, and the Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve (APGAR) Scale to assess medication adherence, self-efficacy, and family function, respectively. Participants also reported their perceived satisfaction with community health services (quantity, quality, affordability, and overall acceptance). The study used the multivariable logistic regression to assess the association of patient, family, and community factors with suboptimal medication adherence. ResultsAmong the participants, 42.9% reported suboptimal medication adherence. In the multivariable logistic regression model, male participants (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55, p = 0.001) had higher medication adherence compared to females. Having a self-efficacy score that was lower than or equal to the sample mean was significantly associated with lower adherence (OR = 1.44, p = 0.039). Participants unsatisfied with the affordability of community health services and medicine had lower adherence (OR = 2.18, p = 0.028) than those neutral or satisfied. There were no significant associations between family function and medication adherence. ConclusionsSex, self-efficacy, and perceived affordability of community health services were important factors associated with medication adherence. Healthcare professionals are recommended to consider multiple factors and leverage services and resources in community health centers when promoting medication adherence.

Psychological resilience in the relationship between family function and illness uncertainty among family members of trauma patients in the intensive care unit

BackgroundSevere trauma accounts for a main factor inducing mortality for individuals aged < 45 years in China, which requires admission to intensive care unit (ICU) to receive comprehensive treatment. Family members of patients with unanticipated and life-threatening trauma during their ICU stays often experience psychosocial distress due to illness uncertainty. Previous research has shown that family function and psychological resilience are associated with illness uncertainty, respectively. However, little is known about the current situation and interacting mechanism between family function, psychological resilience, and illness uncertainty of family members for ICU trauma patients. Therefore, this study focused on exploring the current situation and relationships between these three factors in family members for ICU trauma patients.MethodsThe convenience sampling approach was adopted in the present cross-sectional survey, which involved 230 family members for ICU trauma patients from 34 hospitals in Chongqing, China. Related data were extracted with self-reporting questionnaires, which included sociodemographic characteristic questionnaire, the Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve Scale (APGAR), the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (10-CD-RISC) and the Mishel’s Illness Uncertainty Scale for Family Members (MUIS-FM). Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between various variables. Additionally, a structural equation model was adopted to assess the mediating effect of psychological resilience on family function and illness uncertainty.ResultsAccording to our results, family members for ICU trauma patients experienced high illness uncertainty with moderate family dysfunction and low psychological resilience. Family function directly affected illness uncertainty and indirectly affected illness uncertainty through psychological resilience in family members of ICU trauma patients.ConclusionsFamily function and psychological resilience are the protective factors for reducing illness uncertainty. Healthcare providers should take effective measures, including family-functioning improvement and resilience-focused interventions, for alleviating illness uncertainty in family members of ICU trauma patients.

The healing power of family partnership in pediatric and neonatal intensive care.

The healing power of family partnership in pediatric and neonatal intensive care.

Self-neglect as a mediator between family functioning and healthy aging in older adults living alone in rural China: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the mediating role of self-neglect among older adults in the relationship between family functioning and healthy aging. MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted between June and September 2023, involving 255 older adults living alone in rural China. The healthy ageing, self-neglect, and family functioning was assessed using the Healthy Aging Instrument;the Elderly Self-neglect Assessment (Rural);and Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve (APGAR) scale. ResultsPositive correlations were found between family functioning and healthy aging (r = 0.363, p < 0.05). Moreover, self-neglect was identified as a significant mediator, explaining 40.84 % of the total effect. ConclusionAmong older adults living alone in rural China, family functioning is significantly associated with healthy aging, with self-neglect mediating this relationship. These findings suggest that community-based interventions aimed at improving family functioning and addressing self-neglect behaviors might be beneficial for promoting healthy aging in this population.

An Australian survey of health professionals' perceptions of use and usefulness of electronic medical records in hospitalised children's pain care.

Pain in hospitalised children is common, yet inadequately treated. Electronic medical records (EMRs) can improve care quality and outcomes during hospitalisation. Little is known about how clinicians use EMRs in caring for children with pain. This national cross-sectional survey examined the perceptions of clinician-EMR users about current and potential use of EMRs in children's pain care. One hundred and ninety-four clinicians responded (n = 81, 74% nurses; n = 21, 19% doctors; n = 7, 6% other); most used Epic (n = 53/109, 49%) or Cerner (n = 42/109, 38%). Most (n = 84/113, 74%) agreed EMRs supported their initiation of pharmacological pain interventions. Fewer agreed EMRs supported initiation of physical (n = 49/113, 43%) or psychological interventions (n = 41/111, 37%). Forty-four percent reported their EMR had prompt reminders for pain care. Prompts were perceived as useful (n = 40/51, 78%). Most agreed EMRs supported pain care provision (n = 94/110, 85%) and documentation (n = 99/111, 89%). Only 39% (n = 40/102) agreed EMRs improved pain treatment, and 31% (n = 32/103) agreed EMRs improved how they involve children and families in pain care. Findings provide recommendations for EMR designs that support clinicians' understanding of the multidimensionality of children's pain and drive comprehensive assessments and treatments. This contribution will inform future translational research on harnessing technology to support child and family partnerships in care.

The mediating effect of self-efficacy on family functioning and psychological resilience in prostate cancer patients.

Prostate cancer patients face impaired body image and psychological distress during the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, which leads to changes in mood, cognition and behavior. Psychological resilience has been shown to buffer shocks and stresses from the disease. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between family functioning and psychological resilience in prostate cancer patients and the mediating role of self-efficacy between family functioning and psychological resilience to provide a relevant theoretical basis for improving patients' psychological status by providing relevant theoretical basis. Using a cross-sectional design, participants were 215 patients with prostate cancer admitted to and treated in a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu province, China. Questionnaires were administered using the general information questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolution Index (APGAR), and the General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES). Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational analyses and the bootstrap mediation test was used to test the effect relationship between the variables. Family functioning, self-efficacy and psychological resilience were significantly and positively correlated (r = 0.526, P < 0.01; r = 0.378, P < 0.01; r = 0.358, P < 0.01). The mediating effect of psychological resilience between family functioning and psychological resilience was significant, accounting for 42.56%. Family function and self-efficacy have been shown to increase the level of psychological resilience in prostate cancer patients. Attention should be paid to the mental health problems of prostate cancer patients, early screening and intervention, and the use of patients' family resources to improve their confidence in recovering from the disease, thus increasing their psychological resilience and improving their mental health.

Student leadership in family-school partnerships

Thomas J. Capretta, Jingyang (Max) Zhang, Eric M. Anderman, and Barbara J. Boone revisit Joyce Epstein’s 1995 Kappan article on overlapping spheres of influence and family-school partnerships. They highlight one idea from the article that has been largely overlooked — the role of student voice and leadership. To refocus researchers’ and practitioners’ attention to the role of students in family and community partnership, they synthesize existing research to elaborate on Epstein’s original models and ideas. They provide three levels of research-based, practical recommendations for districts and schools to elevate student roles and cultivate student leadership in family-school engagement efforts. Finally, they illustrate what these practices look like in schools using an Ohio school district as an example.

Exploring Narratives of Teachers Working with Culturally Diverse Students: Any Insights about Inclusion?

The aim of the present study is to capture the teachers’ reflections and lived experiences on the inclusion of culturally diverse students in Greek school settings. Through a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, teachers share their personal accounts and stories about their efforts, initiatives, and moves towards more inclusive schooling, as well as the barriers they face in the school environment. Five (n = 5) primary school teachers were recruited purposefully because of their work experience with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in mainstream, integration or reception classes. Narrative-discursive analysis unravels the effectiveness of inclusive practice in Greece for culturally diverse students according to specific aspects of inclusive pedagogy such as progressive education, transformative learning, innovative practices, and strategies, as well as school–family partnership. Teachers’ experiences revealed their complex work to handle the increasing diversity in schools and to respond to all students’ needs in a context of slow but steady measures towards inclusion.

A mixed‐methods approach to identify elements of culturally‐attuned teacher−student relationship interventions

AbstractWe employed a mixed‐methods design to identify intervention elements that may improve relational inclusion in classrooms through equity‐framed and culturally‐attuned teacher−student relationship interventions. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 29 (26 female) school mental health professionals and 19 parents (mostly mothers) of racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse students. Using a convergent mixed‐methods design, we first analyzed the individual data points and then integrated the quantitative and qualitative data in the interpretation and discussion of the results. Our findings showed that, for school mental health professionals, the quantitative data largely complemented the qualitative results, which represented four themes: School−family partnerships, critical consciousness, educator preparation, and transformational social‐emotional learning. Parents of minoritized students identified unique elements, including microaggressions, color evasion, recognition of bias, storytelling, and systemic change as important for the development of culturally‐attuned interventions. The two groups had parallel and contrasting recommendations about elements that may contribute to improved classroom relational inclusion for minoritized students. Results illustrate how merging professional and parent perspectives could contribute to the development of teacher−student relationship interventions that appropriately address issues of equity and culture in ways that are meaningful to end users and other stakeholders.

Patient and Family Partnership in Scholarship

Patient and Family Partnership in Scholarship

Public perception of participation in low-risk clinical trials in critical care using waived consent: a Canadian national survey.

The acceptability of waiver of consent for participation in clinical research in intensive care unit (ICU) settings is uncertain. We sought to survey the Canadian public to assess levels of support, comfort, and acceptability for waived consent for low-risk clinical trials. We performed a prospective cross-sectional survey of the Canadian public aged 18yr or older. The survey was conducted by Ipsos between 19 and 23 November 2020. The survey content was derived from a literature review and in consultation with a patient and family partnership committee. The survey focused on attitudes and beliefs on waived consent for participation in low-risk clinical trials in ICU settings. The survey contained 35 items focused on sociodemographics, general health status, participation in medical research, and levels of support and comfort with research and with waived consent. The survey used a case study of a low-risk clinical trial intervention in ICU patients. Analysis was descriptive. We included 2,000 participants, 38% of whom reported experience with ICU and 16% with medical research. Participation in medical research was more common among those with postsecondary education, those with chronic disease, and those who were employed in health care. Most (80%) would support a model of waived consent for low-risk clinical trials, citing medical benefits (36%) and low perceived risk (34%). Most (77%) were comfortable with personally participating in a low-risk clinical trial. Most (80%) believed waived consent approaches were acceptable. Half (52%) believed the waived consent process should provide information about the research and include the option of opting out. When asked whether participants should always give full informed consent, regardless of the practicality or level of risk, 74% and 72% agreed, respectively. There is public support for models of waived consent for participation in low-risk pragmatic clinical trials in ICU settings in Canada; however, this is not universal. This information can inform and guide education, ethics, policy, and legal discussion on consent models.

Using an Equity-Centered Framework to Guide Family Engagement: Supporting Children’s Lifewide Music-Making through Reciprocal Partnerships

Engaging families in partnerships that promote student learning and build trust between music educators and the community can be challenging. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide suggestions to help music teachers engage families to support children’s lifewide music-making. We share research and scholarship on family musical practices, family composition in the United States, family-inclusive practices, as well as some families’ views of and hopes for music education. We use this literature and an equity-centered framework of family engagement to provide suggestions to build reciprocally beneficial family partnerships, as well as sample materials teachers can use.

The Shaping Healthy Choices Program: Improving the impact through community partnerships

The high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity demonstrates the need for effective intervention strategies. The Shaping Healthy Choices Program (SHCP) is a school-based intervention that promotes nutrition and physical education, develops family and community partnerships, and incorporates foods available on the school campus, with the goal of achieving sustainable student health outcomes. Partnerships developed through implementation of the SHCP were analyzed using the RE-AIM: Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to assess the potential for adoption, scaling and sustainability of the program. The RE-AIM framework is a comprehensive approach to evaluating public health interventions through reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance. Partners of the SHCP include site staff (teachers, administration and health professionals), parents, peer teachers, and state and federal agencies, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), which funds CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California (CFHL, UC), and UC Cooperative Extension. This analysis highlights how partnerships developed and sustained with the SHCP may serve as a model for other programs to expand, while also enabling programs to remain responsive to the diverse challenges and needs of local community partners.

A meta-analytic review of the implementation characteristics in parenting interventions to promote early child development.

This review summarizes the implementation characteristics of parenting interventions to promote early child development (ECD) outcomes from birth to 3 years. We included 134 articles representing 123 parenting trials (PROSPERO record CRD42022285998). Studies were conducted across high-income (62%) and low-and-middle-income (38%) countries. The most frequently used interventions were Reach Up and Learn, Nurse Family Partnership, and Head Start. Half of the interventions were delivered as home visits. The other half used mixed settings and modalities (27%), clinic visits (12%), and community-based group sessions (11%). Due to the lack of data, we were only able to test the moderating role of a few implementation characteristics in intervention impacts on parenting and cognitive outcomes (by country income level) in the meta-analysis. None of the implementation characteristics moderated intervention impacts on cognitive or parenting outcomes in low- and middle-income or high-income countries. There is a significant need in the field of parenting interventions for ECD to consistently collect and report data on key implementation characteristics. These data are needed to advance our understanding of how parenting interventions are implemented and how implementation factors impact outcomes to help inform the scale-up of effective interventions to improve child development.

Exploring inquiry‐based STEM in preschool: The treehouse project

AbstractIntegrating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in authentic ways is often overlooked in early childhood spaces, despite young children having the ability to engage with the world around them through STEM practices. This piece showcases the work of children in a prekindergarten classroom as they explored an integrated STEM unit centering around the construction of a treehouse on their playground. Through the careful connection to content and standards in science, engineering, and mathematics, along with the integration of developmentally appropriate uses of technology, children learned about and constructed a treehouse on their school playground. Family and community partnerships also contributed to this work. We highlight the various phases of the project, associated standards, and tasks that children engaged with to help demonstrate the propensity of our youngest learners to authentically engage with STEM tasks.

Engaging with Tapa and Ngatu

The making and gifting of koloa faka-Tonga (women’s valuables, also known as koloa) has been an integral part of Tongan identity and culture for as long as anyone can remember. Working collaboratively on tapa and ngatu provides space for discussions and understanding, and reflections of Tongan identity and culture. The practice of gifting koloa has continued outside of the Kingdom of Tonga as Tongans migrate for new opportunities, including Aotearoa New Zealand (henceforth Aotearoa NZ). Using two different examples, this article will explore, through talatalanoa, how Tongan family partnerships working with tapa/ngatu in contemporary ways are sites of intergenerational knowledge sharing through art practices in Aotearoa NZ. Sulieti Burrows and Tui Emma Gillies are a mother-daughter partnership of tapa artists who work and reside in Aotearoa NZ and use their time together to share stories and make tapa works depicting what concerns them in contemporary society. Also residing in Aotearoa NZ, Lavinia and Fire Fonua are a mother-son partnership who turn koloa into contemporary personal adornment, alongside Fire’s wife, Sonia. In this article, the four Tongan authors’ reflections on inter-generational knowledge sharing and practices related to koloa making and gifting are described and illustrated using examples of their work. Their diverse stories also reflect on Tongan material culture, and Tongan identity, and demonstrate how working on practices that centre koloa provides opportunities to consider what it means to be Tongan in Aotearoa NZ, and how Tongan ways of being, knowing, and doing are valued as tu’atonga.

Engaging Families in Supporting the Whole Child: Chicago West Side Parents’ Perceptions of Child Health

Schools and districts nationwide have heavily emphasized supporting students’ health and wellbeing by engaging families and caregivers to truly support the “whole child,” as outlined in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. The COVID-19 pandemic only heightened the important role of school and family partnerships in supporting children’s health. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Healthy CPS initiative is designed to support schools in their compliance with existing health and wellness policies to support child health. This study aimed to explore parents’ primary health concerns for their children, characterize these views, explore any alignment with WSCC, and identify recommendations for family engagement in school health promotion. Eleven semi-structured focus groups (seven English, four Spanish) were conducted with CPS parents/caregivers. Groups were conducted in spring 2021 on Chicago’s West Side, one of the more historically disinvested communities in the city. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using constant comparison, incorporating both inductive and deductive approaches. Key themes emerged related to parents’ perceptions of schools’ role in promoting health including: (1) parents see child health as a shared responsibility between families and schools; and (2) parents identify significant structural barriers and inequities that impede child health, such as racism, community violence, and a lack of community resources in their neighborhoods, and believe schools can do more to address them. Parents’ viewed child health and wellbeing as multidimensional and stated that these dimensions must be considered holistically. Their views aligned with WSCC family engagement-related components. Parents recommended that schools employ a variety of strategies to engage families. Findings from this paper have implications for engaging families in school health policy and program development as well as implementation, particularly those in lower income, urban communities that have faced a history of structural inequities.

Family and school partnership to build homeplace and protect Black autistic joy

ABSTRACT Researchers acknowledge how the experiences of Black autistic students and their families are virtually absent from educational research and research about autistic people. This chapter offers insights and perspectives from the parents of a Black autistic child, using hooks’ construct of homeplace to understand the need for safety in school spaces. Drawing on tenets of self-study and co-autoethnographic methodologies, the authors provide reflections and recommendations on the ways school personnel can help create homeplace to nurture and protect Black autistic joy through their singular and shared narratives.