Martí X. March

Children of drug-dependent parents: prevention programme outcomes

Background: This paper is the result of our interest in preventing adaptation problems (delinquency, academic failure and absenteeism at school, drug use, etc.) in young children and adolescents at risk, as well as the need to develop effective programmes adapted to the population in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Purpose: The objective of this paper was to describe the characteristics and outcomes obtained in the Family Competence Programme (FCP), which is an adaptation of the Strengthening Families Programme (SFP) for the population of the Balearic Islands (Spain). Programme description: Like the SFP, the FCP is a multi-component programme that aims to reduce the influence of risk factors associated with alcohol and drug use while increasing childrens resilience by reinforcing the main protective factors. The programme combines training in parenting skills, work with the entire family and childrens social skills during 14 weekly sessions. The sessions were led by group leaders with long-standing experience in handling groups and working with populations undergoing treatment and who were also trained specifically to apply the programme. Sample: Two applications of the programme were implemented. The final sample was made up of 58 adult men and women (28 in experimental groups and 30 in control groups) who attended treatment or their partners; their average age was 39. A total of 35 children who were 10.6 years of age on average took part in the programme (19 in experimental groups and 16 in control groups). There were 31 families in all (15 in experimental groups and 16 in control groups). All the participants in the experimental groups live in Mallorca (Spain), while the control groups lived in other cities in Spain. Design and methods: We used a quasi-experimental design with an unmatched control group and pre- and post-treatment measures. The subjects were not randomly assigned to the experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups. The first application took place between 28 January 2005 and 13 May 2005. The second application began on 7 October 2005 and concluded on 27 January 2006. We used participant self-reports together with information supplied by the childrens teachers. The instruments included those employed in the SFP and others that had been validated for the Spanish population. The ANOVA, t-test and Cohens d were used to analyse the data obtained. In addition, we recorded the programme attendance. Results: Percentages for programme attendance were very high and remained high during all 14 sessions. Family relationships, parental education skills, childrens behavior and their social skills all improved. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the FCP and its capacity to achieve its objectives are effective, although further research with a larger sample is needed.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIOEDUCATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULT STUDENTS

ABSTRACT In this paper we consider that, to a great degree, educational quality is insured through successful educational and social-relationship strategies developed among educators and their older adult students. Proposals to improve educational quality should be considered within the unique context of each universitys mission and goals. Otherwise, the same measures used in different institutions may lead either to progress or to educational and social regression. Much depends on the conditions under which programs are implemented, and the way they are perceived by participants in the educational process.

El enfoque de la competencia familiar, una experiencia de trabajo socioeducativo con familias

Introduccion. La adaptacion espanola del Programa de Competencia Familiar (PCF) ofrece una opcion de trabajo socioeducativo con familias que precisan mejorar su funcionalidad. Las metodologias socioeducativas de trabajo con familias que aplica el PCF, desarrolladas a lo largo de procesos de duracion media (14 semanas), se han disenado en el marco del enfoque de competencia familiar, de acuerdo a criterios rigurosos. La correcta aplicacion del PCF, de acuerdo a sus contenidos y sus metodologias, ofrece buenos resultados contrastados en los servicios sociales de atencion primaria con familias en situacion de dificultad. Metodo. Se han realizado aplicaciones controladas del PCF, mediante un diseno casi-experimental con grupo de control y medidas pretest y postest. La muestra cuenta con 217 familias que participaron en el programa y 14 familias que participaron en un grupo de control. Se han aplicado instrumentos validados para realizar las evaluaciones de los procesos metodologicos y las evaluaciones de las familias. Resultados. Se observan cambios positivos en seis factores familiares fundamentales. La calidad de la metodologia y la fidelidad al PCF en la aplicacion, obtienen excelentes resultados. Los indicadores metodologicos y de fidelidad correlacionan positivamente con los resultados de las familias. Dicha relacion se puede considerar modulada a la baja por la problematica de la familia. Discusion. Las autoevaluaciones de los participantes y de los profesionales, aun estando controladas rigurosamente, pueden representar una fuente de sesgo. Los resultados a corto plazo pueden representar una sobrevaloracion de los resultados. En cualquier caso, el PCF es un programa socioeducativo excelente para el trabajo preventivo con familias con dificultades de funcionalidad.

The Strengthening Families Programme in Spain: a long-term evaluation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to first assess the long-term effects of the adaptation of the American Strengthening Families Programme in Spain (known as the Programa de Competencia Familiar, translated into English as the Family Competence Programme (FCP)). The second aim is to identify family typologies and family changes regarding family competence over time. The paper’s initial hypothesis is that families have different behaviours and take advantage of the FCP in different ways. Design/methodology/approach – Monitored applications of the FCP were conducted using a quasi-experimental design consisting of a control group and pre-test, post-test and two-year follow-up assessments. The sample was made up of 136 families who took part in the programme and another 18 who participated in the control groups. Validated instruments were applied to assess the methodological processes and the family assessments. A cluster analysis was undertaken to identify different family typologies and their evolution...

Development of prosocial behaviour in children after the improvement of family competences

Purpose – This research assesses the predictive capacity of key factors in the development of family competences: parent-children relationship, family involvement, family resilience and positive parenting. It also aims to establish which are the most discriminating factors between the groups showing the most and the least prosocial behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – The study involves a longitudinal study of one child from 181 families; 155 families in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. Both boys and girls are included and their ages range from 8 to 14 years. The instruments employed are all validated for use with a Spanish population and include Karol Kumpfer’s questionnaires on family competence and the BASC questionnaire. Findings – All of the factors analysed, with the exception of family involvement, proved to be predictive for prosocial behaviour, and the most discriminating among these were: parent-children relationship, family resilience and positive parenting. Originality/...