NCJ Number
215011
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 33-40
Date Published
June 2006
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper provides a description and the implementation of the Resilient Families program, a school-based prevention program designed to help students and parents develop knowledge, skills, and support networks to promote health and wellbeing during the early years of secondary school.
Abstract
Parent participation and support for the Resilient Families program was low. Around 30 percent of parents actively refused their family’s involvement in the student evaluation surveys. Due to this low response from parents, the program failed to implement a plan for parents to exchange contact information. A minority of parents participated in the active parent education events. An analysis of possible reasons for the low rate of parent participation in the program determined that efforts to involve parents in early secondary school might need to be designed differently or the efforts to involve parents might be realistically designed but need to persevere in order to change culturally entrenched attitudes and practices that do not currently emphasize parent involvement. Underlying Resilient Families is a belief that communities, as well as families matter in youth development. The developmental transition from primary to secondary school is a time of significant change. The Resilient Families program promotes health and wellbeing in adolescents and their parents during the transition to secondary school. Resilient Families targets students and their families in the first 2 years of secondary school. The program reduces labeling because all students and their families are invited to participate, with individuals and families “at risk” not being singled out. References