Saturday, 15 January 2005 - 10:00 AM

This presentation is part of: Services for High-Risk Families

Parent-to-Parent: A Strength-Based Preventative Community Program Evaluation

Overview This paper will summarize the development, implementation, and evaluation of a strengths-based community initiative to empower families by increasing their level of advocacy and financial literacy. Called Parent-to-Parent, the program is based on the premise that economic hardship and family instability are linked to family stress. This in turn negatively impacts parenting processes and child well-being. Given the recent economic downturn and slow recovery the statistics for families becoming at-risk of entering the system are staggering. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reported a 48 percent increase in child abuse reports from 1990 to 2001; African-American and Latino children now represent 55 percent of children in foster care.

Program development began with our team conducting a series of parent focus groups between December 2002 and March 2003. Focus groups were conducted in 15 cities and towns across America with more than 500 low-income parent participants.

What we learned from parent focus groups: 1. Parents cite the need for economic security and financial resources. 2. Poverty is the primary cause of family instability. Parents who experience poverty have far more stress in their lives due to multiple factors that in turn reduce family time. 3. Parents want to be empowered politically to in order to impact change. Personal and community leadership development are essential tools for change. 4. Whenever possible, birth parents and/or extended family members should raise children without interference from child welfare officials. 5. Parents feel socially isolated and need peer support and respite time for stress release.

What Came Next? From the needs defined by the focus group, a strengths-based, parent empowerment model was designed and implemented. The intent of the program is to promote increased family stability and security by providing parents with tools to advocate for the material and psychological needs of their families.

Three pilot sites have been launched. Included are 3 sites in South Central Los Angeles, 2 sites in the Harlem area of New York City, 3 sites in Seattle's Central District, and one site in Tucson, AZ.

The goal is to build a framework that adds value and enhance existing program capabilities. Parent-to-Parent is a set of interactions with parents and works in the following way:

1. Casey Family Programs staff works with staff from community-based organizations to recruit and enroll parents in a nine-week session. 2. Two hour sessions are held once a week for nine weeks. 3. A meal is provided for parents and their children during the first 30 minutes; daycare and/or activities are provided for children as parents begin the educational section of the session.

Curriculum Components: „X Parent leadership: Parents as leaders „X Parent advocacy: Parent as advocates and negotiators „X Financial literacy: Parents as financial managers

Evaluation Components: „X Process and delivery model „X Program and curriculum fidelity „X Family well-being indicators „X Program cost

Evaluation results show program impact in improving knowledge around financial literacy, particularly pertaining to predatory lending. Participants also increased interest in advocacy and activity in their community.

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