Role of Research-Practice-Policy Partnerships in Optimizing Prevention Science and the Use of Research Evidence: A Multi-Level Parenting Skills Package for Families Living in Challenging Settings

This abstract was presented at the 2018 Society for Prevention Research Annual Meeting which was held May 29 – June 1, 2018 in Washington, DC, US.

Wadih E. Maalouf United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Virginia Molgaard Iowa State University; Aala El-Khani The University of Manchester; Leland Molgaard Iowa State University; Rachel Calam The University of Manchester; Asma Fakhri United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The number of refugees and families exposed to conflict situation is growing and so are their needs. Child refugees of armed conflict are at increased risk of mental health difficulties, and engagement in risky behaviours including substance abuse, violence and crime. Assisting parents in supporting children can significantly increase the children’s resilience. The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) recently geared its experience in piloting family skills programmes, in line with the International Standards on Drug Use prevention, to address those needs. 

In 2016, and through support from the US INL, UNODC initiated the development and piloting an open sourced, brief (3 session) family skills intervention, for vulnerable population in low resource settings, for the prevention of drugs, violence and crime. This led to the development of “Strong Families”. 

“Strong Families” is guided by the experiences of SFP 10-14 (both in its development and field experience generated through piloting in low income countries under UNODC programming). It consists of 3 session (a pre-session for caregivers only and 2 family sessions). It is an open source programme designed for families living in challenging situations (including those in rural areas, the refugees, the internally displaced and those in conflict/post conflict situations). The initial piloting site for “Strong Families” was Afghanistan, however, through multi donor support and given the growing and pressing need from families living in challenging circumstances “Strong Families” is currently also piloted in Serbia on refugees stranded in transit and in Zanzibar among families living in poor resource settings. 

Moreover, by bridging experiences with University of Manchester, the “Strong Families” package was expanded to a selective multi-level parenting and caregiver support delivery model for families living in challenging settings. A low threshold self read leaflet piloted on Syrian refugees in camps in Turkey, a slightly more interactive parenting booklet (for parents with children 8-14 years) linked to a 2 hour seminar – currently piloted on families in Nablus in the State of Palestine and a modification of the Teaching Recovery Technique (TRT) adding to it 5 parenting sessions (TRT+) currently piloted on Syrian refugees in camps in Lebanon. 

This presentation will overview of the development of this multi-level parenting model that aims at availing to families in challenged settings (especially the refugees) the possibility of regaining the parenting skills to prevent further negative social outcomes in their children.