Purpose of the Parent Education and Family Resilience Interest Group:
Parental behavior is a cardinal factor for the healthy development and well-being of all children. Effective parenting is life long process and contributes significantly to the mental health of all children. Adopting an ecological point of view (Bronfebrenner, 1986) parents need to be included in all types of interventions related to children. By following evidence based scientific practices, school psychologists need to be thinking of ways to strengthen family resilience by helping parents acquire skills that will allow them to have a maximal positive impact on their children’s lives.
The school context is an ideal setting to promote parent education and empower families. In pursuing this goal, we want to further extend our knowledge and skills as school psychologists to support parents and caregivers in raising healthy, emotional and socially balanced children. The emphasis is not only in academic achievement but also in help children and adolescents evolve in cohesive, balanced personalities with emphasis on social emotional connection skills.
This Interest’s Group goals are:
1. To promote an international platform for school psychologists, researchers and other related professionals to collaborate cross-nationally and to exchange knowledge from around the world about parent education and family resilience.
2. To promote best practices in parent training and education in the training of school psychologists and the practice of school psychology and to create a global network of professionals and practitioners in promoting parent education and supporting families across the world.
3. To promote collaboration for international research on evidence-based parenting practices as they relate to children’s’ well-being, resilience and prevention of psychopathology (i.e. behavioral problems).
Highlight of Interest Group since its formation in 2017:
Webinar “Loss and Challenge in the Time of COVID-19 Strengthening Family Resilience” (May 15th, 2021).
Organized by ISPA and Parent Education & Family Resilience Interest Group and presented by the Internationally known expert Professor Froma Walsh, Firestone Professor Emerita, The University of Chicago, USA.