Designing and Implementing Parenting Interventions With Latino Immigrant Families: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

Parenting interventions have shown to be effective in improving parenting behaviors quality, reducing child behavior problems, and increasing overall family well-being. However, the majority of research on the effectiveness of parenting interventions has been conducted with a focus on White and Western populations. As a result, intervention designs and guidelines often fail to address the unique characteristics and experiences of Latino immigrant families, which in turn are likely to impact the implementation and effectiveness of parenting interventions. The current article identifies challenges and discusses strategies that we have found to be effective with respect to our experience implementing a parenting intervention with low-income Latino immigrant mothers in the United States. These include (a) language barriers, (b) recruitment of families, (c) retention of families, (d) building trust and community, and (e) integrating culture into parenting interventions.

A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study of Midwestern Latino Parents Participation and Preferences for Parenting Education Programs

“…Also consistent with previous literature, the quantitative data revealed enablers that could improve participation in parenting programs such as groupbased learning, flexible scheduling, and provision of childcare (Garcia-Huidobro et al, 2016). Service providers should consider flexible scheduling, individualized sessions, or different modalities to accommodate working parents if unable to attend a particular session (Benito-Gomez & Flores Rojas, 2020;Lakind & Atkins, 2018;Mauricio et al, 2018). Combined, these findings point to the need for future parenting programs to address common barriers as well as incorporate reported enablers in program design and implementation to improve the acceptability and accessibility of programs for Latino parents.…”

“…Few parenting programs have been designed specifically for Latino families (Benito-Gomez & Flores Rojas, 2020;Williams et al, 2012), which may limit the effectiveness of current programs. Not addressing cultural concerns related to identity, pride, and values; the meaning of respect (respeto) and its operationalization within the family; and the culturally-based role of parents could hinder parentchild communication (Ramos et al, 2018), acceptability, and participation in parenting programs.…”

Resilience in vulnerable university groups: An analysis of social work intervention strategies from the perspective of social inclusion

“…G. Jadue et al [11] describe resilience as the process of adapting well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threat, or significant sources of stress, such as family or personal relationship problems, serious health problems, or stressful work or financial situations. M. Benito-Gomez & K. Flores Rojas [12] understand resilience as the dynamic confluence of factors that promote positive adaptation despite exposure to adverse experiences. C. Low & B. Shah [13] propose a broader definition of resilience as the human capacity to cope with, overcome, and emerge strengthened or transformed by experiences of adversity.…”

Social Exclusion and Inclusion: A Social Work Perspective

“…Participants identified language barriers within an education-focused intervention and expressed that communicating in English was a particular challenge for understanding instructions and general ideas. Therefore, social workers are encouraged to rethink social inclusion from an intersectional view, by focusing on culturally relevant interventions (Benito-Gomez & Flores Rojas, 2020) that recognize the determinants of social inequality while acknowledging the strengths families have to achieve well-being and the pathways toward social inclusion. One tool to accomplish this goal from a cultural relevant view is building on cultural knowledge of clients.…”