Resiliency studies have made an incredibly positive impact on policy reform. There are countless resiliency studies since 2001, when Werner & Smith first pioneered resilience and recovery as a new area of study. Since then, studies have created a basis by which communities can implement evidence-based policies. Below I will list some of the most influential child development-based policies. 

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Triple P – Positive Parenting Practices

 

A comprehensive parenting and family support system designed to: 

• Increase parent's confidence and competence 

• Improve the parent-child relationship 

• De-stigmatize parenting information and family support 

• Make evidence-based practice widely accessible to parents 

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Child-Parent-Centers 

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A model program for children and families with low incomes. This program works in a school format that includes home and school visits, connecting families with health and social services. It focuses on three major processes to promote wellbeing and reduce problem behaviors: 

1. Cognitive Scholastic Behaviors ​​

   • Cognitive, language, numeracy, and social skills ​

2. Family Support Behavior 

   • Involvement in school ​

   • Parent expectations 

   • Home support for learning 

   • Parenting Skills

3. School Quality and Support 

   • Classroom and school climate ​

   • School-Level Performance 

   • Continuity in learning 

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FIND  – Filming Interactions to Nurture Development ​

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This program focuses on healthy attachment between parent and young child. It is particularly effective due the use of video-taping in families' homes and its strengths-based approach. The experts in FIND point out positive aspects of parenting to foster confidence, self-efficacy, and motivation. As a program, it focuses on: 

• Utilizing a video coaching program for parents and caregivers to promote naturally occurring developmentally supportive interactions between infants and young children

• The importance of reciprocal interactions (serve and return patterns of interactions) 

• Attachment-based interventions 

• Promoting responsive, sensitive parenting by practicing: 

  • Attentional control – noticing children and what they are focusing on in the moment ​

  • Self monitoring – by viewing themselves on tape 

  • Inhibitory control – by being instructed to wait for children's cues, then reciprocating the interaction 

  • Theory of mind and reflective functioning – recognizing the world of the child and reflecting on experiences 

For children, it targets: 

• Early years when brain circuitry is being established for language, socioemotional, cognitive, and self-regulatory capacities 

• Gaze, vocalization, action (through serve and return interaction styles) 

Effects: 

• Improves parent well-being and parenting, which then affects child outcomes 

• Improves confidence in parenting,

• Reduces and helps to manage stressors related to lower income

• Heightens maternal emotions, which increases sensitivity to children's cues

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With the help of resiliency studies, more programs and policies supporting child and family functioning will emerge. The results of these studies are very encouraging! With the right policies, we can make a positive difference in people's lives. If you are interested in learning more about resiliency, I recommend researching Anne Masten's work on resilience. In her book, Ordinary Magic, she emphasizes that what matters is not rare or extraordinary. There are plenty of videos of her talking about her work on youtube, and her book is available on Amazon. 

 

I hope that learning about risk factors, protective factors, and examples of successful programs help you understand yourself and those around you better. 

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