PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to promote FAMILY HEALTH by highlighting the importance of family relationship in the development of children’s behaviors. Since school plays an important role in a child’s formative years, it is crucial for the education system to be sufficiently equipped with the understanding of major family dynamics that may impact the child’s behavior for a more holistic approach in the art of bringing up of children.
RATIONALE
In our work with children’s mental health problems, we have diligently developed a family-oriented approach to address not only the symptoms or the “illness”, but also how it can be measured physiologically in relation to family dynamics. Specifically, we have devised an assessment protocol to measure the linkage between the presenting problem of the youth to what exactly in the interparental relationship that is causing the problem. By treating the entire family system in which the individual is embedded, as opposed to focusing only on the presenting problem, this approach can open up new treatment possibilities for many hard to treat cases. It also empowers the families to repair their relational difficulties and work toward more satisfying relationships.
We have accumulated a vast volume of writings and videos on the sharing from live families, which formed a powerful framework on the teaching of family health. This body of work has been presented in the international arena. With a grant from the Rusy and Purviz Shroff Charitable Foundation, we are able to introduce this approach to the education system, with the aim of creating a ripple effect in acknowledging family relationship as an important element in children’s educational system.
SCOPE OF
SERVICE
20 schools (both primary and secondary) will be invited to form a partnership in this three-year project. Each school will be offered four presentations and three focus groups with both parents and staff (A presentation is a dyadic lecture with video materials outlining important aspects of the family dynamic to be discussed, a focus group is to elicit deeper understanding and formulate action plans among the participants based on the issues that have arisen in thepresentation). Out of each focus group, at least one ambassador will be identified, who will proceed to organize more focus groups within their educational context, so as to create a snowball effect.
20 family therapy consultations will be provided to families referred by the participating schools as part of the training process.
EVALUATION & END GOAL
A task force is formed to monitor and implement the entire project. At the end of the three years, it is expected that the 20 schools that will have gone through the experience will become leaders in the promotion of FAMILY HEALTH, and that most of the schools will have family health education as part of their extra-curricular activities for the betterment of their students.