Filial Therapy with Adolescent Parents: The Effect on Parental Empathy, Acceptance and Stress

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of filial therapy training on adolescent parents\u27 parental empathy, acceptance, and stress, and attainment of educational goals. It used a quasi-experimental, non-randomized sample drawn from three different high schools, pretest/posttest design, to measure the effectiveness of filial therapy. Each parent completed a ten week training period using either a filial therapy model or a typical parenting education model. Data included pretest and posttest questionnaires and videotaped sessions of play with their child. Statistical analyses showed a significant difference in seven of the thirteen areas. Parents in the filial therapy group showed significant increases in empathy and acceptance of their child. Decreases in stress were not statistically significant. Both experimental and control groups showed evidence that providing programs that support adolescent mothers in the school setting increases the chances that they will remain in school. Suggestions for further research are also included

Enhancing the Value of Rural Towns through Ecosystem Interventions:A report for the Local Enterprise Partnerships of Lancashire and Cumbria, to inform ecosystem approaches to place-based policy

This in-depth case study of a Rural Hub Town delivers new evidence for place makers, with insights that have resonance across the 182 Hub Towns in England. As the UK government performs its ‘pivot to towns’ through multiple strands of place-based policy, we need to better understand these critical sites. Hub Towns, as identified by DEFRA and the ONS, play a critical role at the nexus of urban and rural economies and society, and need to be better studied and understood. We break new ground by unpacking the ways in which economy, culture and environment can come together to support thriving communities and economic growth in Hub Towns. Building on a robust core of academic research, we draw together a substantial body of data including 49 interviews with key stakeholders in a single town, along with public engagement data (collected by the District Council) constituting the comments and feedback from 1,663 individuals and organisations. By studying the entire rural town ecosystem, we reveal how Place Value is created. Furthermore, we propose two economic, one cultural, and one environment related intervention that each deliver significant, cascading benefits through the town and its rural hinterland. Taken together, these interventions represent a cohesive approach to Rural Hub Town development, applicable in this site, whilst offering a start point for ecosystem-level research and policy making across the other Hub Towns

Primary school-based screening for childhood mental health problems and intervention delivery: a qualitative study of parents in challenging circumstances

Few children with mental health problems access evidence-based interventions. Primary schools may be an ideal setting to improve access to treatment through screening and intervention programmes, but some families’ circumstances and experiences may increase barriers to benefiting from this approach. Interviews were carried out with parents of children living in potentially challenging circumstances, including foster and military-connected families. We aimed to explore parent perceptions of a school-based screening/intervention programme and potential barriers to uptake. Parents described that due to their past experiences, that they might not trust or engage with a school-based screening/intervention. Nonetheless, parents considered that the delivery of a sensitive school screening/intervention programme might provide an opportunity for schools to strengthen their relationship with families. These findings highlight the need for future school-based screening/intervention programmes for child mental health to consider the needs of families of children from varied circumstances, and ensure steps are taken to promote trust