NCJ Number
150966
Journal
Families in Society Volume: 72 Issue: 9 Dated: (November 1991) Pages: 563- 572
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article describes the implementation of a group training program designed to help parents at-risk for child maltreatment build more effective social supports by strengthening their prosocial attitudes and interpersonal skills.
Abstract
Four social-support-skill-training (SSST) groups were conducted in two nonprofit parenting education agencies in Vancouver, B.C., in an 18-month period. A total of 25 parents (23 mothers and 2 fathers) participated in the SSST groups. The first 12 sessions focused on helping members expand prosocial attitudes and develop communication and self-protection skills. Four sessions were added to promote generalization and maintenance of social-support skills, which included identifying and accessing community support resources. Group leaders performed ongoing case-management functions with each SSST group member to help achieve and maintain social-network and social-relationship goals during followup. Information on attendance and satisfaction with training suggest that parents found the groups engaging and beneficial. Although individuals from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of social competence, education, and language proficiency can benefit from a structured group- training experience, several exclusion criteria are worth considering when constructing a time-limited group with multiproblem, largely involuntary parents. Parents with severe psychopathology, active drug or alcohol abuse, and extreme interpersonal anxiety would disrupt group cohesion and learning. 41 references