Invited Symposium Summary
Family resilience in theory and practice
Presenters: Kristin Hadfield, Awie Greeff, Louise Yorke, Gilles Tremblay, Joshua Brisson and Igor Pekelny
This symposium will focus on how individuals and families adjust to challenging life events and structural adversity. We will outline new understandings of family resilience theory and provide a number of applied examples of how this concept can be used to inform research and practice.
Invited Symposium Abstracts
Theoretical departures to unravel the complexities of family resilience
Presenter: Awie Greeff (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Introduction: In this presentation I will give a brief account of two prominent and well-developed theories of family resilience.
Methods: McCubbin and McCubbin (1996) developed over time the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation, highlighting two key processes (adjustment and adaptation) and four domains of family functioning that are crucial for family protection and recovery: interpersonal relationships; development, well-being and spirituality; community relationships and nature; and structure and function. Walsh (2012), in her family resilience framework, identified three domains of family resilience, namely belief systems, organisational patterns and communication, and problem solving. The presentation will be concluded with an example of a recent research project, indicating the complementary value of a mixed methods study.
Findings: This presentation will review and comment on theories of family resilience and so splitting by introduction, methods, and findings is not appropriate]
The educational migration of rural girls in Ethiopia: How does a socio-ecological framework of resilience illuminate family and other influences?
Presenter: Louise Yorke (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
Co-Authors: Robbie Gilligan
Introduction: This research follows the journeys of a group of girls in Southern Ethiopia as they migrate from rural to urban areas in search of education. Using a socio-ecological framework of resilience (Ungar, 2011), this presentation seeks to achieve a culturally relevant understanding of the lives of these rural girls, focusing
Methods: On the relations between the girls and their families. The data is drawn predominantly from the accounts of a group of 27 rural girls (aged 15-19). A participatory approach was used to help participants to tell their stories. The perspectives of some key family members were also included. The presentation explores how rural girls navigate the barriers and challenges in their lives and the resources families provide at different stages on their education and migration pathways. It considers contribution the girls make to their households and the impact this has for them and their families.
Findings: relevant understanding of what it means to ‘do well’ in Ethiopia and explores how sometimes this can differ between family members. Overall, the research explores the relevance of a socio-ecological framework of resilience for understanding the complexity of the lives of rural girls and their families in Ethiopia.
Resilience of fathers after a family breakdown: What do we need to know in next few years in Quebec, Canada?
Presenter: Gilles Tremblay (Laval University, Canada)
Introduction: In Quebec, the rate of divorce has stayed at 50% for the last 25 years (ISQ, 2009). The rate is twice as high for non-married couples compared to married couples (Le Bourdais et al., 2008). The number of parents who decide to share the custody of the children is
Methods: increasing, but custody still tends to be awarded to mothers. Although more and more children maintain relationships with both parents (Biland & Schitz, 2013), unfortunately, some non-resident fathers cease quite rapidly to have contact with their children (Marcil-Gratton, 1998). Ten years ago, we conducted two qualitative studies, one with separated mothers and one with separated fathers, all living in poverty, to better understand what the resilience factors are that help these fathers (or ex-husbands) to stay involved with their children despite adversity. But, in the last ten years, gender relations have moved: fathers are generally more involved in the child
Findings: care and their involvement is more integrated in the day to day life. What is the situation now regarding fathers’ involvement after a family breakdown? This is one of the questions addressed in a vast study done by a large team led by Marie-Christine Saint-Jacques.
Families as a resilience resource in a 'gang prevention' program
Presenters: Joshua Brisson and Igor Pekelny (Dalhousie University, Canada)
Introduction: In 2008, the Resilience Research Centre (RRC) received funding from Public Safety Canada to evaluate the Youth Advocate Program (YAP) over a four-year period. The YAP is a pilot project that targets youth, aged nine to 14, who are at-risk of engaging in gang activities, anti-social, and criminal behaviour. It was initiated in six communities of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) in Nova Scotia. The theoretical foundation of the YAP is based on the Wraparound model. This model has been used to help provide a comprehensive set of supports for individuals and families who are marginalized within their communities. The YAP used the model to help guide interventions between the youth, their family, and the Youth Advocate Worker (YAW).
Methods: Quantitative data were collected using the YAPST assessment tool that included validated scales for factors central to the prevention of youth gang involvement. To estimate changes over time, repeated measures data for 41 participants (six-month intervals—during the program and post-exit) was collected and later analysed using a growth curve model. Qualitative data collection included interview and focus groups program participants and a number of different stakeholders including the management team, advisory committees, community committees and the YAP staff. File reviews were also conducted.
Findings: Overall, results from this evaluation show the Youth Advocate Program to be an effective community-based response to youth with complex needs and who are at risk of joining gangs. The program has developed an innovative model that adapts principles from Wraparound and engages youth and families by providing case management and direct support from para-professionals who are embedded in the communities where the youth reside. Youth Advocate Workers (YAWs) provide sequential liaison between a youth, the youth‘s family, and the many service providers working with the family. This pattern may fit well in the context of Nova Scotia where resources are relatively scarce and service providers have large caseloads, making it difficult to coordinate meetings with more than one provider at a time.