Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the CSAC "OK, You've Got This" Parenting for Resilience Program

Presenter's Name(s)

Stephanie SmithFollow

Conference Year

January 2019

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to understand the significance of resilience in the context of community mental health and social work practice. We are a group of MSW students at the University of Vermont, partnered with the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC), a community mental health organization in Vermont, to better understand 1) the variables that support and build child and youth resilience, and 2) the role of education, health, and social service providers in helping children and youth build resilience. CSAC is part of an interagency group in Addison County responsible for addressing population health and community well-being. Survey and assessment data gathered from the county’s school and mental health system in 2017 showed low levels of resilience and high levels of anxiety for kids across the county. In response to this data, the group launched a public awareness and education campaign to promote youth resiliency called “Ok. You’ve got this.” The campaign’s first initiative was to develop a class for parents, offered at one of the county elementary schools, based on the work of Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg—“The 7 Cs: The Essential Building Blocks of Resilience.” As additional classes are offered in various schools across the county, our research group will be working with CSAC to evaluate the effectiveness of the class curriculum in building resilience. We will consider whether alternative approaches, such as disseminating information on resilience via flyers, pamphlets, etc., might be more effective and scalable than the classes; or whether providing both gives the message the most traction. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum implemented by CSAC in improving resiliency, we will provide a pre- and post-survey to class participants, as well as conduct interviews with the pilot group of participants.

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Jessica Strolin

Status

Graduate

Student College

College of Education and Social Services

Program/Major

Social Work

Primary Research Category

Social Sciences

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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the CSAC "OK, You've Got This" Parenting for Resilience Program

The purpose of this research project is to understand the significance of resilience in the context of community mental health and social work practice. We are a group of MSW students at the University of Vermont, partnered with the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC), a community mental health organization in Vermont, to better understand 1) the variables that support and build child and youth resilience, and 2) the role of education, health, and social service providers in helping children and youth build resilience. CSAC is part of an interagency group in Addison County responsible for addressing population health and community well-being. Survey and assessment data gathered from the county’s school and mental health system in 2017 showed low levels of resilience and high levels of anxiety for kids across the county. In response to this data, the group launched a public awareness and education campaign to promote youth resiliency called “Ok. You’ve got this.” The campaign’s first initiative was to develop a class for parents, offered at one of the county elementary schools, based on the work of Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg—“The 7 Cs: The Essential Building Blocks of Resilience.” As additional classes are offered in various schools across the county, our research group will be working with CSAC to evaluate the effectiveness of the class curriculum in building resilience. We will consider whether alternative approaches, such as disseminating information on resilience via flyers, pamphlets, etc., might be more effective and scalable than the classes; or whether providing both gives the message the most traction. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum implemented by CSAC in improving resiliency, we will provide a pre- and post-survey to class participants, as well as conduct interviews with the pilot group of participants.