The Black Parenting Strengths and Strategies The Black Parenting Strengths and Strategies Program: A Randomized Pilot StudyProgram: A Randomized Pilot Study

Stephanie I. Coard, Ph.D.Associate Professor

Human Development and Family Studies, UNCG

Presented at the Developmental Psychology Brown BagUniversity of North Carolina-Greensboro

October 19, 2007

Acknowledgements

MENTORS:

Linda Burton, Ph.D., Penn State UniversityRobert T. Carter, Ph.D, Teachers College, Columbia UniversityJessica Henderson Daniel, Ph.D., Harvard UniversityMichelle Fine, Ph.D, City University of New YorkVonnie McLoyd, Ph.D., UNC-Chapel HillVelma McBride Murry, Ph.D., University of GeorgiaRobert Sellers, Ph.D., University of MichiganElwood Robinson, Ph.D., North Carolina Central UniversityMargaret Beale Spencer, Ph.D., University of PennsylvaniaHoward Stevenson, Ph.D., University of PennsylvaniaDonna Marie Winn, Ph.D., Duke University

Mission

The prevention and treatment of child mental health problems and the promotion of emotional and behavioral health –with particular emphasis on Black/African American children, adolescents and their families.

What does that mean?…

1. Remaining at the forefront of research in prevention and comprehensive treatments for/with African American youth and facilitating awareness of the importance of examining and understanding the role of race, ethnicity and culture in the conduct of research.

Elucidating roles of race/ethnicity in development

These factors contribute to the complexities of psychological processes, and are of vital importance to the understanding of culturally diverse populations.

2. Integrate existing and new knowledge on culture, ethnicity and race with intervention efforts aimed at preventing and treating child mental health problems and fostering competence and well being.

As evidenced-based interventions are applied to children within diverse families, schools and communities, the understanding of culture and how specific culture-related factors influence implementation, acceptance and outcome become paramount.

Outline of Presentation

Research Overview Rationale and limitations

Racial Socialization Overview Definition and Importance

Intervention Development Phases Cultural adaptation process Intervention components

Pilot Findings Conclusions and Future Directions

K01 Award:Cultural Strategies for Preventing Conduct Problems

Pursue research on translation, implementation and testing of clinically efficacious interventions into community settings; and in culturally adapting and testing those interventions to ensure successful dissemination within urban and inner-city communities.

A primary focus of this research has been the development and testing of culturally-relevant strategies to assist African American parents in preventing and managing common behavioral problems in children.

Funded by National Institute of Mental HealthK01 MH-01881-01

2000-2005

Limitations of Parent Training InterventionsLimitations of Parent Training Interventions

Increase in contextually focused evidenced-based preventive intervention, BUT…

Focus on “surface” modifications rather than the consideration of “deeper” structural cultural adaptations.

Consideration to critical values and traditions of a particular ethnic group, the unique historical, present, and future conditions of the group have largely been ignored.

Do not consider the unique parental challenges that African American families experience and unique parenting practices that are culturally, ethnically, racially-based, valued and influenced by the societal realities that exist (e.g., racism, prejudice, discrimination).

Racial Socialization DefinedRacial Socialization Defined The process by which messages are transmitted inter- and intra-generationally regarding the significance and meaning of race and ethnicity.

Involves teaching children values and norms associated with race/ethnicity, and problem-solving skills that enable children to be flexible in their approach to race-related situations, without losing a core sense of self.

Coard, S. & Sellers, R. African American families as a context for racial socialization. (2005) In V. McLoyd, N. Hill and K. Dodge, (eds.) Emerging Issues In African-American Family Life: Context, Adaptation, and Policy. New York: Guildford Press.

Stevenson, H., Winn, D.M., Walker-Barnes, C. & Coard, S. Style Matters: Towards a culturally relevant framework for interventions with African American families (2005) In V. McLoyd, N. Hill and K. Dodge, (eds.) Emerging Issues In African-American Family Life: Context, Adaptation, and Policy. New York: Guildford Press.

Complexities of Racial Complexities of Racial SocializationSocialization

Synergistic and dynamic

Bi-directional process

Deliberate and unintended

Transmission and reception

Moderated by family and ecological characteristics

Racial Socialization and Child Racial Socialization and Child Outcomes: Empirical FindingsOutcomes: Empirical Findings

Racial Competence Academic Achievement

Self-Efficacy Self-Esteem

Behavioral Competence

DelinquencyDrug Abuse

Why is Racial Socialization Important?Why is Racial Socialization Important?

It influences a children’s beliefs about the way the world works.It informs children’s beliefs and attitudes regarding ‘the self’.It helps shape children’s repertoire of strategies and skills for coping with and navigating racism.It impacts the nature of the child’s’ inter- and intra-racial relationships and interactions.

Who am I Targeting?A quest to define Blackness

Race and/or Ethnicity Black and/or African American BiracialMultiracialRace of parent and/or race of childRace of grandparent and/or race of parent and/or child

And the answer is…

Barbershops/hairdressersNail salonsResource/drop in centersSchools (drop off/dismissal)Housing projectsPlaygrounds/ParksBlock Parties/FestivalsRestaurants/Take-outsCommunity CentersYMCAChurches/mosquesDMVStreet vendorsCaretakers/nannies

Intervention Development PhasesIntervention Development Phases

1. Qualitative Study: Further elaborate the key aspects of racial socialization through qualitative methods and review of historical, sociological, and psychological literatures.

2. Program Adaptation: Develop an intervention for African American parents of 5 – 7 year old socio-economically disadvantaged children that encourages parents use of racial socialization practices.

3. Assessment Battery: Develop an assessment battery that is sensitive to changes in racial socialization practices and related constructs.

4. Open Pilot : Pilot the racial socialization intervention as an adjunct to a standard parent training intervention.

5. Randomized Controlled Pilot: Test the enhanced parent training intervention in a randomized controlled trial (waitlist control).

Frequency of Message

Frequently UsedRoutine aspect of parenting

Moderated by family characteristics

Mode/Delivery of Messages

ActiveResponsive

Passive

Content of Messages

Racial Preparation (83%)Racial Pride (93%)

Racial Equality (86%)Racial Achievement (67%)

Racial Socialization

Model of Racial Socialization Processes (Coard, 2003)

Coard, S. & Wallace, S., & Stevenson, H. & Miller Brotman, L. (2004). Towards culturally competent preventive interventions: The consideration of racial socialization in parent training with African American families. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 13 (3), 277-293.

Other Culturally-Specific Considerations*Content:

Black child developmentUsing proactive racial socialization strategiesTalking to your child about raceKnowledge of African American historyEncouraging culturally affirming attitudes and behaviorsCoping with race-related conflicts Race-related advocacy in school settings

*informed by qualitative findings and existing literature

Delivery Strategies:

Use of AA language expression, common languagePhysical expressionEmphasize AA values about collective responsibility, cooperation and interdependence.Use of African proverbs, sayings/affirmations, poems, quotes, symbols, pledgesAfrican American perspective use of (“we”)PrayerRole-playingStorytelling/testimoniesExtended family participationHumorSetting/Motif- representative of population (e.g., books, magazines, pictures)

Culturally Enhanced Version:Culturally Enhanced Version:Black Parenting Strengths and Strategies (BPSS)Black Parenting Strengths and Strategies (BPSS)

Program Overview:

A culturally- and strengths-basedparenting program for the prevention of conduct problems of young children grades K-2.

Weekly session (12 weeks)Two hour sessionsMeals and childcare/tutoring

Ticket system• Attendance (on time)• Homework completion• Binder

Program goals:

STRENGTHEN parenting skills IMPROVE parental involvement EMPOWER parents to advocate

and access GUIDE parents in preparing

African-American children for success

So we can….

INCREASE positive behaviors in children

DEVELOP self-image and self-esteem

BUILD their confidence in school PROMOTE positive racial

discussions ENHANCE problem-solving skills

Parenting the Strong-Willed Child (Long & Forehand, 2002)

Evidence-based behavioral parent training program, recognized for its general effectiveness.

Designed to improve the parent-child relationship and increase desirable child behaviors.

Teaches skills that assist parents in dealing with and preventing noncompliance and other problematic behavior.

Skills: Attending, Rewards, Ignoring, Effective directions, Time Out

BPSS Parent Group Sessions: 1- 61 Welcome and Introduction

Parenting in Context: Yourselves as Black ParentsSelf –Reflection

2 Black Discipline: Stickin’ To, Watchin’ Over and Gettin’ With*Affection, Protection and Correction

3 Young Children and Racial-Ethnic MattersRacial/Ethnic Development and CompetenceRacial Socialization: Talking about Race

4 Understanding Child Behavior and Identifying Behavior ProblemsAttending

5 Creating a Positive Homeplace** and Homespace***Spirituality and Family TraditionsRewards

6 Improving Communication SkillsIgnoring

*Based on Stevenson, Davis & Abdul-Kabir (2001)**Term conceived by L. Burton*** Term conceived by J.V. Ward

7 Building Positive Self-Esteem and Self-Image

Effective Directions

8 Developing More Patience and Respect

Time-Out

9 Black Children and the School Experience

Racial Achievement

10 Teaching Children to Problem Solve

Chit chats and Race–Related Problem Solving

11 Integrating Parenting/Behavior Change Skills

Addressing Specific Behavior Problems

12 Advocating for Your Child

Addressing specific race/ethnic matters (at home and in the community)

13 Graduation Ceremony

BPSS Parent Group Sessions: 7 - 12

Child Domains and Measures

Child Behavior Problems

Child Social Competence

Child Racial Competence Attitudes Coping Racial Preference

Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC- P/T)

Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC- P/T)

Social Skills Rating Scale(SSRS-P/T)

Preschool Racial Attitude Measure(PRAM)

Racial Stories Task II Color of My Skin

Parent Domains and Measures

Parenting Practices

Parent Racial Socialization

Parent Racial Identity

Parent Functioning

Parent Practice Interview (PPI) Involve Parent Questionnaire (IPQ)

Parent Experience of Racial Socialization (PERS)

Parent-Child Race-related Observational Measure (PC-ROM)

Afro-centric Home Environment Inventory

Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI)

  Parent Stress Index (PSI) Inventory of Race Related Stress

(IRRS)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Baseline control Post control Baseline Intervention Post Intervention

Means for Parenting Practices and parent-rated child behavior for control and intervention: Parenting Practices

Means for Parenting Practices and parent-rated child behavior for control and intervention: Parents Experience of Racial Socialization

0

5

10

15

20

25

Total Score

Baseline control Post control

Baseline Intervention Post Intervention

Means for Parenting Practices and parent-rated child behavior for control and intervention: Child Conduct Problem

46

48

50

52

54

56

Conduct Problems Problem Behavior

Baseline control Post control

Baseline Intervention Post Intervention

Means for Parenting Practices and parent-rated child behavior for control and intervention: Child Social Competence

0102030405060708090

100110120

Responsibility Cooperation Self-Control

Baseline control Post control

Baseline Intervention Post Intervention

Conclusion BPSS is a model for incorporating culturally relevant

content and processes into established evidence-based interventions.

BPSS is a promising preventive intervention with encouraging preliminary data. The feasibility as been established. A preliminary evaluation of BPSS via a randomized

wait list control pilot is complete. Significant results in positive changes in parenting,

including reduction in harsh discipline, increase in use of positive racial socialization strategies, and positive changes in social and racial competence in African American children.

Coard, S., Foy-Watson, S., Zimmer, C., & Wallace, A. (accepted with revision). Considering culturally relevant parenting practices in intervention development and adaptation: A randomized control trial of the Black Parenting Strengths and Strategies (BPSS) Program. Journal of Counseling Psychology

Racial SocializationRacial Socialization The Parent-Child Race-Related Observational Measure (PC-

RROM), a parent-child observational measure of the race-related communication and interaction (racial socialization) has been developed and preliminary psychometrics conducted.

Future Research…

Examine other sources of racial socialization beyond parents.

Investigate the ethnic variation among families of African descent in America.

Identify racial socialization practices and strategies that are associated with the most positive child outcomes taking into consideration ecological environment.

Continue to develop and evaluate race socialization interventions.

Show me the money:Quest for additional funding

Culturally Relevant Family Focused Interventions (R34)

Randomized clinical trial

Condition 1: A well-established, evidence-based program for use with diverse families (Parenting the Strong-Willed Child); Condition 2: A culturally specific adaptation of that program tailored for African American parents (Black Parenting Strengths and Strategies). Condition 3: Information-only control

Determine added benefit of cultural enhancements

No randomized control trial of this nature has been conductedto date.

Efficacy of Cultural Adaptations for Enhancing Behavioral Health in Black Youth (R21)

A randomized clinical trial

Determine whether the addition of racial socialization content and strategies to an empirically-based intervention significantly improves service outcomes: Program Engagement (recruitment, retention, participation), Consumer Satisfaction when used with African American families.

Cultural Strategies for Preventing Conduct Problems: A follow-up Study (R03)

To identify any long-term trends of the BPSS intervention.

In addition, child mental health service utilization among intervention participants will be assessed.

Reducing Behavioral Health Disparities for Black Youth (SBIR Phase 1)

To develop and test a child-focused intervention curriculum specifically designed to be culturally relevant and effective for African American youth (K-2).

Black Parenting Strengths & Strategies—Child (BPSS-C)

Reducing Behavioral Health Disparities for Black Adolescents (Planned SBIR Phase 1)

To adapt curriculum to be developmentally appropriate and effective for parents and adolescent.

Black Parenting Strengths & Strategies—Adolescent (BPSS-A) Black Parenting Strengths & Strategies—Teen Parent (BPSS-TP)

BPSS Special/Advanced Topics Build on BPSS to address social-familial issues and provide brief parent and/or child-directed training on specialty topics currently beyond the scope of the base program.

3-4 sessions

Assist to Resist: A Culturally Relevant Drug Prevention Program Specifically, focuses on the development of supplemental parenting

modules designed to prevent substance use in Black youth (currently funded by NIDA-Duke Transdisciplinary Prevention Research Center).

Others planned: Anointed 2 Achieve: A Culturally Relevant Academic Efficacy programEmbrace ME: A Culturally Relevant Self and Body Image program for girls

Experiences of Racism and Mental Health Outcomes During Middle Childhood (R01)

The aims of this research project are as follows:

To gain an understanding of the prevalence of perceived racism experiences and how African American youth and parents perceive, interpret, conceptualize, and process racism (i.e., racial bias, racial discrimination, prejudice) in their lives (school and neighborhood settings). To gain understanding of the impact of racism on mental health outcomes in children (i.e.., externalizing and internalizing)To gain understanding on how those experiences and their impact may differ in African Americans across gender, age, socioeconomic status.To elucidate the moderating role of child and parent characteristics (racial identity), family (e.g., racial socialization, SES) on experience of racism.

THANK YOU!!