USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENGAGE HIGH RISK FAMILIES

DR. SUSAN M LOVE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE

Social Network/ Online Community

Child Maltreatment

Negative developmental trajectory toward emotional, social, and behavioral problems (Cicchetti & Valentino, 2006; Belsky & Jaffee, 2006)

Increased probability of serious adult problems Antisocial disorder (Loeber, 1998),

Substance abuse disorders (Holmes & Robins, 1988; Mayes and Suchman, 2006),

Subsequent early arrests (Patterson, Reid, & Dishion, 1992),

Physical illnesses throughout life and can lead to early death (Repetti, Taylor & Seeman, 2002)

1.25 million Children are maltreated, annually, in US; one child in every 58 (Sedlak et al., 2010)

Financial cost of responding to maltreatment annually in the U.S. is estimated at $103.8 billion (Wang & Holton, 2007)

DIFFICULTY IN REACHING THIS HIGH RISK POPULATION

Less likely to participate in community parenting programs (Sanders, Bor & Morawska, 2007)

More likely to drop out (Turner & Sanders, 2006)

Stigma, “blame and shame” (Corrigan, Watson, and Miller, 2006)

Racism (Hill, 2010) and distrust of professionals (Knott & Donovan, 2010)

Agency barriers--costs of hiring, training, and maintaining EBP professionals (Baggett et al., 2010)

Paucity of EBP in rural communities (Irvine, et al., 1999)

Consumer preferences MOST: television online programs written materials

workshops LEAST: Parenting groups individual therapist home

visits (Metzler, Sanders, Rusby, & Crowley, in press)

CONVERSATIONS WITH VULNERABLE PARENTS

In Los Angeles’ poorest neighborhood, we conducted:

Eleven focus groups (N = 160) of high-risk parents &Survey on parent’s use of the Internet (N = 238)

Parents’ expressed the importance of a sense of community and learning through the experiences of others.

In the survey sample, 78% of the young, high-poverty, minority parents used the internet regularly.

50% of African American youth are on social media, daily (Pew, 2010) .

Rationale for social media

Young mothers are high utilizers of social media;

High-risk parents are stigmatized and often socially isolated;

Vulnerable populations, may distrust professionals and thus avoid seeking help;

Increased reach and convenience for parents;Engaged through social rewards i.e. belonging;Consistent with consumer preference and the

ecology of Black and Latino populations in LA

INNOVATIVE SOLUTION:ONLINE COMMUNITY

Invited only, moderated, and based on Online TP’s content and structure

SNS FEATURES: Portal with personal profile blogs discussion threads reward system based on gaming mechanics Personalized with (pin) boards

References, page 1

Baggett, K., Davis, B., Feil, E., Sheeber, L.B., Landry, S., Carta, J. & Leve, C. (2010). Technologies for expanding the reach of evidence-based intervention: Preliminary results for promoting social-emotional development in early childhood. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education.

Belsky, J. & Jaffee, S. (2006). An ecological transactional perspective on child maltreatment: Failure of the average expectable environment and its influence upon child development. In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology (Vol. 3, 2nd ed., pp. 129-201). New York, NY: Wiley.

Cicchetti, D. & Valentino, K. (2006). An ecological transactional perspective on childmaltreatment: Failure of the average expectable environment and its influence upon child development. In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental Psychopathology (Vol. 3, 2nd ed., pp. 129-201). New York, NY: Wiley.

Corrigan, P., Watson, A. & Miller, F. (2006). Blame, shame, and contamination: The impact of mental illness and drug dependence stigma on family members, Journal of Family Psychology, 20(2), 239–246.

Hill, M, (6/24/2010). The Black community is in the middle of a mental health crisis. Retrieved May 9, 2011 from http://www.nondomesticatedthinker.com/2010/07/the-black-community-is-in-the-midst-of-a-mental-health-crisis/

Holmes, S. & Robins, L. (1988). The role of parental disciplinary practices in the development of depression and alcoholism. Psychiatry, 51, 24-35.

Irvine, A., Biglan, A., Smolkowski, K., Metzler, C. & Ary, D. (1999). The effectiveness of a parenting skills program for parents of middle school students in small communities. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(6), 811-825.

Knott, T. & Donovan, K. (2010). Disproportionate representation of African-American children in foster care: Secondary analysis of the national child abuse and neglect data system, 2005. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(5), 679-684.

Loeber, R., & Farrington, D.P. (1998). Never too early, never too late: Risk factors and successful interventions for serious and violent juvenile offenders. Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention, 7, 7–30.

Love, S., Sanders, M., Metzler, C., Prinz, R. & Kast, E. (in review). Enhancing accessibility and engagement in evidence-based parenting programs to reduce maltreatment: Conversations with vulnerable parents.

Metzler, C.W., Sanders, M.R., Rusby, J.C., & Crowley, R. (in press). Using consumer preference information to increase the reach and impact of media-based parenting interventions in a public health approach to parenting support. Behavior Therapy.

References, page 2

Mayes, L. & Suchman, N. (2006). Developmental pathways to substance abuse: In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental Psychopathology (Vol. 3, 2nd ed., pp. 129-201). New York, NY: Wiley.

Patterson, G., Reid, J. & Dishion, T. (1992). Antisocial boys: A social interactional approach. Eugene, OR: Castalia Publishing Company.

Pew Foundation Report (2010), Technology trends among people of color. Retrieved May 8, 2011 from http://www.pewinternet.org/Commentary/2010/September/Technology-Trends-Among-People-of-Color.aspx

Repetti, R., Taylor, S. & Seeman, T. (2002). Children from 'risky families' suffer serious long-term health consequences, Psychological Bulleting, 128(2), 330–366.

Sanders, M., Bor, W. & Morawska, A. (2007). Maintenance of treatment gains: A comparison of enhanced, standard and self-directed Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35(6), 983-998.

Sedlak, A.J., Mettenburg, J., Basena, M., Petta, I., McPherson, K., Greene, A., and Li, S. (2010). Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS–4): Report to Congress. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Turner, K., & Sanders, M. (2006). Dissemination of evidence-based parenting and family support strategies: Learning from the Triple P—Positive Parenting Program system approach. Aggression and violent behavior, 11, 176-193.

Wang, C-T. & Holton, J. (2007). Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States. Prevent Child Abuse America. Retrieved June 22, 2010, from: http://www.preventchildabuse.org/about_us/media_releases/pcaa_pew_economic_impact_study_final.pdf