Set within a fragmented community, The Family: People Helping People (Family) project is a group therapy model that aims to facilitate cultural resocialization through personal transformation. The Family models a nuclear family, and uses a novel, open discussion approach to address various psychosocial issues within the context of the Bahamian society. A pilot study investigated changes in disenfranchised individuals who participated in The Family over a 6-month period, and revealed some significant changes in emotional and behavioral trends after treatment. Statistical analysis of the pilot study showed significant decreases in feelings of depression, suicidality, anger and vengefulness, and increases in significant feelings of self-esteem and intimacy with others. Negative behaviors, such as illegal activity and participation in abusive relationships, decreased, while the quality of family relationships and benevolence increased. Gratitude and forgiveness were recurring themes expressed by participants in the study, suggesting their key role in resocialization. This Family group therapy model may be applicable to different populations, and may be a useful tool in fostering community resocialization.

Discovering a theory of change for health promotion in small- and medium-sized enterprises highlights important lessons about how successful workplace health interventions work and the conditions conducive to positive outcomes for ‘hard to reach groups’. In the evaluation of targeted health promotion initiatives carried out by the Workwell project in Sandwell, a theory of change has emerged that indicates the need for a sensitive understanding of the contexts of interventions and the importance of developing mechanisms appropriate to local conditions and stakeholder expectations.

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The Family: People Helping People project is a supportive group process modality involving the sharing of personal stories, self-examination, reflection and transformation using psychotherapeutic principles. The group process was developed to confront the prevailing social fragmentation in the Bahamas associated with or caused by the continuing effects of the country-wide crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and the fall-out due to the recent international financial downturn. Facing community disintegration, high youth unemployment and burgeoning rates of violent crime and murder, many persons have been severely traumatized. This paper reviews the major themes presented in 776 group process sessions indicating the pervasive nature of the negativity of the shame process expressed in the high incidence of anger, violence, grief, relationship issues and abuse. This innovative project has been proven to enhance the re-socialization of many participants in the program.

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