Family Support Programs Research Articles

Formalna i neformalna podrška osobama sa invaliditetom i njihovim porodicama u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji - pregled literature

Introduction. Formal and informal support are important for quality of life of people with disabilities and their families. Objective. The aim of this paper was to (a) identify types of and satisfaction with support for Croatian and Serbian people with disabilities (PWD) and their caregivers and (b) summarise the effects of support reported by PWD and/or their caregivers in Croatia and Serbia. Methods. A systematic search was conducted, followed by eligibility screening of the peer-reviewed articles published from 2000 to June 2020. EBSCOhost, Hrčak, and the Serbian Citation Index [Srpski Citatni Indeks] databases were searched. We also searched the grey literature using Google Scholar and employed backward reference searching. The authors scanned articles and extracted the data related to the country, study's aim, study's design, sample, methodology, and findings. Twenty seven studies were included in this review. Results. Croatian and Serbian PWD and their caregivers received informational, emotional, practical, and financial support at different degrees. They were most satisfied with informal support, while the degree of satisfaction with formal support varied. They highly valued support programs. Conclusion. Croatia and Serbia, in general, lack a formal support system, and informal support is the most prevalent for PWD and their caregivers. There is a need for more support programs for families of PWD.

치매 가족돌봄제공자의 코로나19 상황에서의 치매관리지원프로그램 이용경험: 포커스 그룹 인터뷰에 기초하여

Objectives: In this study, we explore the experience of family caregivers using dementia management programs for patients with dementia during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Three focus group interviews were conducted with 14 family caregivers who enrolled in this study. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and a qualitative thematic analysis method was employed for the research questions. Results: Three categories were derived: confusion about dementia care during the COVID-19 situation, a sense of transition because of dementia support programs, and wishes for further care. In addition, 7 clusters of themes and 14 themes were identified. During the COVID-19 pandemic, family caregivers of patients with dementia not only experienced the burden of dementia but also frustration caused by social isolation. By participating in various support programs, these families re-recognized dementia, gained empathy through exchanges on dementia management, and embraced their identity as dementia managers. Moreover, the families suggested that the current dementia family support programs required quantitative and qualitative improvements and customized diversification by levels. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a limit exists to meet the various needs of family caregivers who receive services. Further, developing the need for dementia management according to the disease stage or care needs of patients with dementia is necessary.

Impact of text message reminders on attendance at healthy marriage and relationship education workshops

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined the impacts of different types of text message reminders on couples' attendance at healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) workshops.BackgroundRegular attendance is often a challenge for couples participating in HMRE workshops. Studies suggest that nudges can increase attendance at appointments, but there has been little research on their application to family support programs.MethodWe conducted a Bayesian adaptive randomized controlled trial involving 1,742 couples in Florida. We assigned couples to either a control group that received no reminders or one of several treatment groups that received different types of reminders. We compared attendance across groups to estimate impacts of the messages on couples' initial and continued attendance.ResultsSimple reminders that provided only the date and time of the first session increased couples' initial session attendance by 12% compared with the control group. None of the reminders increased continued attendance among couples who attended the first session.ConclusionSimple reminders worked best for increasing initial attendance compared with messages with enhanced content, such as motivational messages, graphics, or peer testimonials. Couples that attended the first session had similarly high rates of continued session attendance regardless of the reminders.ImplicationsText message reminders show potential as a tool for boosting initial attendance at voluntary family support programs.

THE ROLE OF FAMILY INSTABILITY AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE CHILD'S COGNITIVE AREA/DEVELOPMENTAL AREA: CHILD AND LANGUAGE

In the present study, the first and strongest environmental impact on children's developmental effects is presented, which comes from the family context, where children live and are active in the first years of life. In more detail, we focused on the detailed analysis of specific characteristics of parents, such as their socio-economic and educational level, family structure, age, and citizenship of the parents, as well as whether or not they have attended a family support program, characteristics that contribute in the formation of an appropriate or non-family environment and considered by the scientific community to be able to influence the level of a child's cognitive development, and in particular "oral speech", "reading" and "scripture and written expression".<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0369/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

코로나19 상황에서 가족센터 가족지원프로그램 이용현황 및 요구도 분석: 관악구 가족센터를 중심으로

This study aimed to analyze the needs and status of family support programs at the Gwanak-gu Family Center in the context of COVID-19. An online survey targeting Gwanak-gu residents between the ages of 20 and 60 was conducted between September and October 2021. Descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, a t-test, and a one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data gathered from 506 participants. The results of this study are as follows. First, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers of male, single (unmarried), and single-person household participants increased. Second, demand for “me”-related programs, such as self-discovery, self-management, and hobbies, was generally high. Third, demand for “me”-related programs was the highest among the group that had never previously used the Family Center. Fourth, although women with children in preschool were highly satisfied with the non-face-to-face method, no significant difference was found in the satisfaction between the face-to-face and non-face-to-face methods. The results also showed that most respondents did not have a strong preference for either the face-to-face or non-face-to-face methods. Fifth, in educational programs, there was a high preference for the non-face-to-face method, while in programs emphasizing communication, experience, and exchange, there was a high preference for the face-to-face method. The findings indicate that it is necessary to adjust program themes and operation methods by tailoring them to the characteristics and needs of the target population and considering regional characteristics when developing new programs.

Development and validation of a goal attainment scale for families affected by maternal substance use.

The Team for Infants Exposed to Substance use (TIES) Program is a longstanding home-based family support program that provides a multidisciplinary, community-facing model to address the complex needs of families with young children affected by maternal substance use. The model required a comprehensive assessment tool to guide creation of individualized family goals with steps to achievement and measurement of progress on those goals. This article describes the development of a goal attainment scale and the analysis conducted to validate the scale for the service population. TIES model developers and community partners developed the goal attainment scale to assess outcomes in key domains: maternal substance use, parenting, child and maternal health, income, and housing. Data were collected from 2012 to 2019 from 220 participants and analyzed in 2020. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. Twenty-five of the original 30 items were retained in a six-factor structure. The total percentage of variance explained was 64.44% with six factors, and Cronbach's alpha was .90. For the split-half method, the reliability of scale was .90 for unbiased conditions. Therefore, the scale reached acceptable reliability and validity. The scale provides a comprehensive approach to measure family outcomes across multiple domains addressing key risk and protective factors. This family-centered scale serves both therapeutic and evaluation purposes, acting as an intervention guide and a goal attainment measurement tool.

Creating a proactive interdisciplinary approach to care: Embedding oncology care coordination within an oncology patient and family support program.

51 Background: The benefits of providing psycho-oncology services have been well documented in producing better effective team collaboration, patient outcomes, and reduced healthcare utilization. Cedars-Sinai Cancer spans five locations and serves over 11,000 patients a year. Their robust Patient and Family Support program (PFSP) includes psychiatry, palliative medicine, social work, nutrition, cancer rehabilitation, survivorship, and chaplaincy to envelop patients in multiple dimensions of support. A new oncology care coordination (CC) model embedded a social work (SW) and nurse (RN) CC within PFSP to identify and meet diverse unmet needs of patients through close interdisciplinary collaboration. Methods: Oncology CC was established within PFSP, containing an oncology SW CC and an oncology RN CC. Patients with higher acuity needs were identified through multiple avenues such as: health plan reporting and dashboards in the electronic medical record (EMR) providing alerts for patients with unmet needs. Preliminary data was captured on interdisciplinary collaboration and care coordination from a daily log kept by coordinators, as well as from the EMR. Results: Over 6 months (9/2021 to 2/2022), the PFSP CC team served 688 patients providing 1280 interventions. Of the 1280 interventions, 22% were coordination with other PFSP services; of which 54% was with SCM, 36% with Clinical SW, and 18% represented new referrals. 13% focused on outside services including medical devices, home health, and community resources. 6% comprised of post-discharge calls by the RN CC and 16% represented direct SW CC outreach. Care coordination such as appointment scheduling, assistance with prescriptions and communication with medical teams represented 9%, 1% and 11% of the interventions respectively. Conclusions: Results demonstrated for this subset of patients that the highest needs of oncology PFSP CC were SW and SCM, to address needs such as pain and symptom management, goals of care conversations and community resource linkage. Anecdotally, communication with primary oncology and other medical teams proved to be an essential role of the CC team, particularly to address inpatient to outpatient transitions of care. Discussion: CC team involvement is time-limited and appears to rely on the long-term relationship patients have with PFSP interdisciplinary team members for interventions to be long-lasting and effective. The CC team leveraged existing relationships that PFSP providers had established with primary oncology teams, allowing for timely care coordination. Future goals include: 1) developing an algorithm to better identify patients with higher acuity and unmet needs; 2) measuring impacts of CC services on care outcomes, health care utilization and reduced symptom burden; 3) expanding the CC team to serve more of the patient population.

Evaluating the implementation of Cradle to Kinder: An intensive home-visitation support program for families experiencing disadvantage

BackgroundThe Australian evidence supporting the effectiveness of home visitation programs for families experiencing disdavantage is mixed. These inconsistent findings could be attributed to the varied ways in which home visitation programs are implemented, and a lack of evaluation. ObjectiveThis qualitative paper explores the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of Cradle to Kinder - a long-term, intensive, home visitation family support program for vulnerable young caregivers at risk of child removal across Victoria, Australia. MethodSemi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 37 stakeholders from all levels of intervention delivery (i.e., clients, internal staff, external stakeholders). Data collection and thematic analysis were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). ResultsAccording to stakeholders, four key CFIR constructs facilitated the implementation of Cradle to Kinder: Effective Engagement, Relative Advantage, Organisational Culture, and Learning Climate. Implementation was challenged by factors within the Peer Pressure construct, which involved managing expectations and push-back from external organisations and services. ConclusionThe current findings highlight the importance of organisational commitment to successful implementation. The next phase of this research is to establish the effectiveness of Cradle to Kinder. Indeed, greater implementation-effectiveness evaluations of family support programs are required to ensure that such programs effectively meet the needs of families and improve their outcomes.

Family socioeconomic status and young children’s learning behaviors: The mediational role of parental expectation, home environment, and parental involvement

Utilizing a national longitudinal sample from China Family Panel Studies (2018), this study examined how family socioeconomic status (SES) is related to young children’s learning behaviors through parental expectation, parental involvement and home learning environment. A total of 1348 children aged 3–5 years were included. Mediation analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. The results identified a significant relationship between family SES and home learning environment and parental involvement, whereas family SES was only partially related to parental academic expectations. There were no statistically significant relationships between SES and children’s learning behaviors. Moreover, no indirect effects were found between parental expectation, home learning environment, and children’s learning behaviors. However, parental involvement had an indirect effect on children’s learning behaviors. The present study highlights the need to consider the role of parental involvement in supporting the development of young children’s learning behaviors. The findings and discussions raise implications for researchers and practitioners to provide parental involvement support programs for Chinese families from diverse SES backgrounds.

Telehealth Support for Dementia Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned From the NYU Family Support Program

ObjectivesIn response to the needs of dementia caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NYU Langone Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Family Support Program (FSP) quickly transitioned to providing most services online. To understand how dementia caregivers experienced FSP services after the switch to video telehealth, we conducted qualitative interviews of spouse or partner dementia caregivers. ParticipantsTen participants were recruited from a convenience sample of dementia spouse or partner caregivers who used one or more online FSP services offered during the pandemic. DesignCaregivers engaged in semi-structured interviews held via videoconference between May and June 2020. Qualitative analysis of interviews was conducted according to the principles of framework analysis. ResultsCaregivers reported high satisfaction with the FSP pre-pandemic and continued to feel supported when services were provided online. They transitioned to video telehealth services with little difficulty. ConclusionsWhile video telehealth is frequently cited as beneficial for those in rural communities, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, or homebound individuals, our findings suggest that video telehealth is also advantageous for dementia caregivers, given their unique barriers, including lack of time due to caregiving responsibilities, lack of respite care for the person with dementia, and the additional burdens of travel time to access in-person services.

Evaluating the Benefits of a Family Support Program on the Health and Well-Being of Aging Family Caregivers of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT Providing care to a family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) takes a toll on the health of the caregiver and the family, especially as they age. Research shows that peer mediated family support programs can improve caregiver health and well-being. To date, most family support programs have focused on family caregivers of children and youth with I/DD. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits of participating in the Michigan Older Caregivers of Emerging Adults with Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (MI-OCEAN) family support program grounded in the Family Quality of Life (FQOL) framework. Specifically, we examined the effect of participation on health care utilization, caregiver well-being, and perceptions of global FQOL for older caregivers of adults with I/DD. Quantitative analysis of data gathered from 82 caregivers (age 50 and older) indicated that study participation was associated with increased use of Medicaid and improved caregiver well-being (reduced burden, stress, depression; increased health satisfaction and FQOL). Future research is needed to examine the long-term impact of the family support programs in improving the health and well-being of older caregivers of adults with I/DD.

Cumulative barriers to retention in methadone treatment among adults from rural and small urban communities

BackgroundThough methadone has been shown to effectively treat opioid use disorder, many barriers prevent individuals from accessing and maintaining treatment. Barriers are prevalent in less populated areas where treatment options are limited. This study examines barriers to retention in methadone treatment in a small Midwest community and identifies factors associated with greater endorsement of barriers.MethodsPatients at an opioid treatment program (N = 267) were recruited to complete a computer-based survey onsite. Surveys assessed demographics, opioid misuse, depression and anxiety symptoms, trauma history and symptoms, social support, and barriers to retention in treatment (e.g., childcare, work, housing, transportation, legal obligations, cost, health). Descriptive statistics were used to examine individual barriers and multiple regression was calculated to identify demographic and psychosocial factors associated with greater cumulative barriers.ResultsMost participants reported at least one barrier to retention in treatment and more than half reported multiple barriers. Travel hardships and work conflicts were the most highly endorsed barriers. Past year return to use (B = 2.31, p = 0.004) and more severe mental health symptomology (B = 0.20, p = 0.038) were associated with greater cumulative barriers. Greater levels of social support were associated with fewer barriers (B = − 0.23, p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study adds to the limited research on barriers to retention in methadone treatment among patients in rural and small urban communities. Findings suggest flexible regulations for dispensing methadone, co-location or care coordination, and family or peer support programs may further reduce opioid use and related harms in small communities. Individuals with past year return to use reported a greater number of barriers, highlighting the time following return to use as critical for wraparound services and support. Those with co-occurring mental health issues may be vulnerable to poor treatment outcomes, as evidenced by greater endorsement of barriers. As social support emerged as a protective factor, efforts to strengthen informal support networks should be explored as adjunctive services to methadone treatment.

Effects of the family support and psychoeducation program based on the Calgary Family Intervention Model on the coping, psychological distress and psychological resilience levels of the family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients

AimsThis study was aimed at investigating the effects of family support and psychoeducation program based on Calgary Family Intervention Model on coping, psychological distress and psychological resilience levels of families of chronic psychiatric patients. MethodsThe sample of this quasi-experimental study consisted of the caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients who were admitted to the adult psychiatry inpatient and outpatient unit of a university hospital and the caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients registered with the Schizophrenia Solidarity Association. Nonparametric analysis was used in the analysis of the data. ResultsIt was found that there was a significant decrease between the mean distress scores the caregivers participating in the Calgary Family Intervention-Based Family Support and Psychoeducation Program obtained from the measurements before, right after, and 3 and 6 months after the intervention (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the coping scores and psychological resilience scores the caregivers obtained from the measurements before, right after, and 3 and 6 months after the intervention (p > 0.05). ConclusionIt was concluded that the family support and psychoeducation program based on the Calgary Family Intervention Model applied to family members giving care to individuals with chronic mental illnesses had positive effects on the general health status of the caregivers.

Leadership enhancing culturally safe models of care in a Western Australian Aboriginal community context: A qualitative investigation

BackgroundModels of care for community health nursing need to address social determinants of health for families, requiring community health nurse leaders to encourage all nurses to facilitate culturally safe models of care, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. Many challenges impact on provision of support for a range of population groups, with increasing attention focusing on how community health nurses lead equitable health activities for Aboriginal Australian families. AimThe aims of this study were to investigate the suitability, feasibility and acceptability of parent support, informing a culturally safe model for a peer-led support program for Aboriginal families. MethodsParticipatory action research enabled Aboriginal peer support workers and parents, community agencies and a child health researcher to collaboratively review cultural safety, suitability, and progress of the program. Qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. FindingsThe Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency's cultural safety framework guided four themes: Acknowledgement of colonisation, racism, and social determinants of health; recognition of influences of personal racism and power differentials; recognising importance of partnership approaches to care and collaboration with individuals and families to ensure appropriate and acceptable care; and promotion of safe working environments. DiscussionCommunity-based initiatives informed by Aboriginal perspectives are needed to support Aboriginal families. Participatory action research enables community health nurse leaders to engage with Aboriginal participants, facilitating co-design of culturally safe models of care. ConclusionReflections on culturally safe strategies enabled development of peer-led support for Aboriginal families, focusing on self-determination, empowerment, and equity. Acceptability of the strategies has contributed to an emerging culturally safe model of care. Indigenous Australian peoples are people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Respectfully, throughout this paper, they will be described as Aboriginal.

Family Education and Support Programme: Implementation and Cultural Adaptation in Cape Verde

This article describes some preliminary data on the implementation of the Family Education and Support Programme (FAF) on psychosocially at-risk families of Boavista Island, Cape Verde, specifically in relation to its effectiveness in parenting competences. The FAF is a family intervention programme designed to be integrated into preventive and formative actions and it has the purpose of promoting positive parenting and preventing child abuse. This study aims to (a) describe the participants’ psychosocial profile regarding sociodemographic characteristics and negative or risky life events, (b) analyse the effectiveness of the FAF on improving parenting competences, and (c) address the main procedural topics related to the implementation of the FAF in Cape Verde. An experiential and participatory methodology was used with 66 parents, who participated in 12 group sessions, with a weekly periodicity, for four months. The evaluation was performed, in the pre-test and post-test, with the control group and the intervention group. Results show the effectiveness of the FAF in an African context, including its impact. The intervention group improved their post-intervention scores on perceived efficacy and satisfaction with a moderate and high effect size, respectively. We present some recommendations to be considered in future programs to promote positive parenting, since improvements in parents’ competences, are key to reducing neglectful or abusive situations.

Childhood Protective Factors and Future Adult Health Outcomes in an Urban Environment.

To evaluate protective factors that help individuals overcome adverse health outcomes associated with childhood trauma in an urban environment. This retrospective cohort study included adults born between 1970 and 1995 who grew up in the former Cabrini-Green Homes, a low-income, Chicago public housing development. Participants completed surveys asking about general health, smoking, and mental health status. Surveys included questions related to neighborhood and family support, community safety, and childhood youth program participation. Simple regression models were performed to compare childhood exposure of adverse and protective factors to adult health outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to adjust for age, sex, and educational attainment. 334 former residents completed the survey, and only those that reported an adversity score ≥ 2 were included in the analysis (n = 248). For those individuals who reported that their families cared for them as children, they described feeling hopeful about the future (OR 2.77, 95% CI, 1.28-6.00, aOR 2.63, 95% CI, 1.21-5.75) and reported decreased smoking rates as adults (OR 0.30, 95% CI, 0.14-0.66, aOR 0.35, 95% CI, 0.16-0.78). Better self-reported adult health status was associated with residents who believed the neighborhood looked out for one another (OR 2.31, 95% CI, 1.21-4.42, aOR 2.01, 95% CI, 1.02-3.95). These findings suggest that a caring family and neighborhood connectedness are protective in mitigating childhood adversity. Devoting resources to strengthen families and communities is a promising strategy to promote healthier adult behaviors.

Adolescent risk behaviours and family settings in Bulgaria: An evidence-based approach to effective family support policies.

BackgroundThe paper focuses on Bulgarian adolescents’ behaviours that put their health at risk and their relationship to family-related characteristics: structure of family and material status, family support, communication with parents, parental monitoring and school-related parental support. It also discusses intervention programs with a focus on parent support gradient.Material and methodsThe analysis is based on the Bulgarian sample of Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey, the 2018 round. Logistic regression models of current cigarette smoking, regular alcohol consumption, sexual debut and current cannabis use are applied. Main national programs on adolescent health and the parental involvement component in them are also discussed.ResultsThe statistical analyses reveal significant gender and age differences in Bulgarian adolescents’ health risk behaviours. Girls have significantly higher odds of smoking and are less likely to report an early start of sexual life. Odds of cigarette smoking and regular alcohol consumption increase with age. Children living with one parent have significantly higher odds of smoking, regular alcohol consumption and current cannabis use. Interactions between FAS and family support reveal that students who report low family support, regardless of the material status of the family, have significantly higher odds of health risk behaviours.ConclusionThe main contribution of the analysis reveals the alleviating effect of family support on socio-economic inequalities between families. An evidence-based approach delineating a preventive potential of family support on Bulgarian adolescents’ health risk behaviours despite the level of family affluence provides solid arguments for increasing national family support programs.

Effects of Family Support Program for Pre-referral Intervention of Infants at Risk of Developmental Delay on Interaction Behavior and Family Resilience

본 연구는 보육현장에서 사각지대에 놓여있는 장애위험 영아를 위한 가족지원 프로그램을 개발하는 것을 목적으로 하였다. N구에 거주하는 20-36개월 영아 중 영유아 건강검진 발달선별검사를 통해 발달지연이 확인된 14명의 영아 가족을 대상으로 가족지원 프로그램을 실시하였다. 가족지원 프로그램은 가족의 요구를 바탕으로 자녀 발달을 지원하는내용으로 구성하였으며 주 1회, 총 12회기로 진행되었다. 연구 결과, 의뢰 전 중재를 위한 장애위험 영아 가족지원 프로그램은 가족탄력성과 주양육자의 상호작용 행동 변화에 효과적이라는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통해 장애위험 영아 가족지원 프로그램은 가족의 개별적인 요구를 파악하여 가족의 어려움을 독립적으로 해결해감으로써 가족 역량을 키울 수 있다는 것을 확인하였다는 점에서 의의가 있다.

EP501: Family engagement within the genetics delivery system: Family perspective

In 2020, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded grants to support seven Regional Genetics Networks (RGNs) across the United States, a National Coordinating Center for the Regional Genetics Networks (NCC), and the National Genetics Education and Family Support Program (Family Center). HRSA funds the RGNs, NCC, and Family Center through May 2024 under the current grant cycle.

Understanding Manitoba Inuit’s Social Programs Utilization and Needs: Methodological Innovations

Manitoba is home to approximately 1,500 Inuit, and sees 16,000 consults yearly from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut to access services. The purpose of our study was to develop detailed profiles of Inuit accessing services in Manitoba, by using administrative data routinely collected by Manitoban agencies, to support the development of Inuit-centric services. This study was conducted in partnership with the Manitoba Inuit Association, and Inuit Elders from Nunavut and Manitoba. Findings shows that the Inuit community living in Manitoba is fairly stable, with only approximately 5 percent of Inuit moving in and out of Manitoba on any given year. Inuit settle primarily in Winnipeg, and a significant proportion depend on social programs such as Income Assistance and housing support. A significant number of Inuit children have contact with the Child Welfare System. Our results support the need for more Inuit-centric programming, including family support and language programs.