Family Empowerment (FAME): study protocol for a pilot implementation and evaluation of a preventive multi-family programme for asylum-seeker families

Abstract

Background Families applying for asylum have often experienced multiple potentially traumatic events and continue to face stressors during their resettlement. Studies have indicated that traumatic events can negatively impact parenting behaviour and child development. A secondary preventive multi-family intervention programme, called Family Empowerment, was developed. Family Empowerment aims to strengthen parenting skills and prevent exacerbation of emotional problems in asylum-seeker families. This study protocol aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of Family Empowerment to reduce parental mental health problems and improve family functioning. Methods An uncontrolled pre-test-post-test design will be conducted, using a mixed-methods approach. Approximately 60 families living at asylum centres and family locations with children aged 0–18 will be included. All participants will be invited to take part in seven sessions of Family Empowerment. Measurements take place at baseline, during implementation of Family Empowerment and 1 week post-Family Empowerment. Demographic data, the quality of the parent-child interaction, family functioning, parental symptoms of depression and anxiety, and participants’ feedback on progress and the therapeutic alliance will be assessed. A programme integrity list will be filled out during each session. Semi-structured interviews at baseline and post-Family Empowerment will be used to evaluate Family Empowerment. Discussion This is the first study to provide a pilot implementation and evaluation of Family Empowerment. The current study will inform us on how to improve programme elements and the implementation of Family Empowerment. Limitations are discussed. Trial registration Dutch Trial Register, TC = NTR6934 . Registered on January 8 2018.

The Role of Place Attachment in Promoting Refugees’ Well-Being and Resettlement: A Literature Review

“…Refugees have to rebuild their lives, often in an environment where they do not feel welcome [ 7 ]. During resettlement, refugees are continuously exposed to stressors, such as social, economic and social insecurity, which negatively affect their psychological functioning [ 8 ]. Refugees are therefore at great risk of developing mental health problems during the time of resettlement.…”

Family Empowerment (FAME): A feasibility trial of preventive multifamily groups for asylum seeker families in the Netherlands

“…The audio-recording was transcribed verbatim. Several adaptations were made to the study protocol published earlier (Van Es et al, 2019). Firstly, the Emotional Availability Scale (EAS), an observational instrument assessing the quality of the parent-child relationship at baseline (Biringen, 2008), was not used.…”

“…were planned to limit the impact of these challenges, as described in the published study protocol (Van Es et al, 2019). For example, an introduction session was offered to inform families about FAME and to exchange mutual expectations, as suggested by Asen and Scholz (2010).…”

“…Experiences with offering FAME at an asylum center have been used to strengthen the manual (Mooren & Bala, 2016 ). The development of the FAME manual has been in line with the cycle for developing and evaluating preventive programs for refugee families as proposed by Weine (Van Es et al, 2019 ; Weine, 2011 ).…”

Parent Support Programmes for Families Who are Immigrants: A Scoping Review

“…3. In a total of 18 studies, the study participants were from mixed cultural backgrounds or the cultural background was not specified [4,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70] (Fig. 3).…”