A family-focused intervention model, based on Bailey at al. (1986) was adapted and utilized with 16 families having infants (birth to three years) with moderate or severe developmental disabilities. The intervention included the selection and development of appropriate instruments as well as a 20-week treatment program for the entire family unit. Individualized family service plans were developed and incorporated the collaborative efforts of parents and the interventionist. Multiple baselines across targeted, individualized, familial behaviors resulted in progressive skill attainment by each family member. As a result of intervention, predominantly positive interactions were exhibited between infants with handicaps and their family members. Data obtained from the family assessment tools revealed statistically significant relationships among the family variables. Qualitative analyses of parental and sibling statements and behaviors confirmed enhancement of their skill repertoire and the identification of specific events that impacted upon families. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the family-focused intervention model resulted in high levels of parental satisfaction, accelerated rates of progress by children with moderate or severe developmental disabilities, and acquisition of functional skills by families. Positive benefits of the model exceeded family gains acquired with previously implemented child-focused programs. Implications for future research are described.

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges parents of children with mental health disabilities and disorders in Namibia face when attempting to access mental healthcare resources. The study used a qualitative exploratory approach. Purposive sampling was used to include parents, caregivers and relatives of children with metal health disabilities and disorders. The sample also included key informants. Data was collected through focus group discussions with the participants and individual interviews with the key informants. Overall, a total of 41 people provided information for this study. Thematic data analysis was used to assess the data. The results suggest that parents/caregivers and relatives of children with mental health disabilities and disorders do experience barriers accessing mental health care. The challenges go beyond commonly-reported problems in the literature such as stigma and discrimination and include basic challenges such as a lack of transportation to healthcare services and a lack of acceptance of the mental health disorders by the parents. The study offers recommendations for how service provision can be improved and how parents of children with mental health challenges can have better access to services.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different perspectives of familycentered, natural environment early intervention programs. Specifically, the family's perception of early intervention services were compared to that of the speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perception of these programs. The perspectives of the speech language pathologist and the families receiving early intervention services were explored to determine the overall satisfaction with the current early intervention model and practices, related to the assessment procedures and intervention practices utilized by the SLP. Results of this research study indicated that the parents of children with special needs are generally satisfied with the early intervention services being provided to their child and family. Respondents of the speech-language pathologist survey indicated that the current service model is appropriate and useful when working with the majority of families receiving early intervention services. Strengths and weaknesses of the familycentered, natural environment early intervention program are further discussed. / Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology

Research literature indicates that parents of children with disabilities have different effects from and perceptions of their children’s disabilities. Evidence also suggests that mothers and fathers experience different effects from their child’s disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in stress levels between Kuwaiti fathers and mothers about their children with specific learning disabilities (SLD). The research utilized a descriptive survey design that employed a mixed methodology of both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. A sample size of 182 parents comprised of 91 fathers and 91 mothers participated in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the participants and their children with SLD. Descriptive statistics were also used to demonstrate participants’ responses toward the open-ended questions that were included in the qualitative section, while the t-test and repeated-measured MANOVA were used to examine the differences in stress levels between the Kuwaiti parents in the quantitative section. The outcome of the research revealed that there were significant differences in overall stress levels between Kuwaiti fathers and mothers about their children with SLD. The findings of this study showed that overall mothers have significantly higher stress levels than fathers, and they have higher stress levels specifically about the child’s characteristics (Child Domain) and also the parents’ characteristics (Parent Domain) as well. The researcher suggests that ministries of education and ministries of health in Kuwait and the Gulf Area need to provide effective programs that improve the quality of life of parents of children with disabilities and meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Parents of children with disabilities need governmental and other program models that support their efforts on behalf of their children with disabilities and decrease the unhealthy stress levels that these parents might experience. / Department of Special Education

Advances in medical technologies and changing philosophies of health care have led to a rapid increase in home-based care for children with disabilities. While there are cost savings for health services if children are cared for at home there are extensive additional demands on the time and resources of parents, particularly primary caregivers, who are usually mothers. Previous studies have shown that parents caring for children with disabilities experience considerable stress and increased rates of mental health problems. The present dissertation investigated the impact of caring on the daily lives of parents and in particular, a model proposing factors contributing to parental psychological, social and health outcomes. A preliminary qualitative study found time demands to be a core theme when discussing the consequences of caring, and when describing tasks of caring. A second, larger scale quantitative study focused on assessing the time constraints facing parents of children with developmental disabilities. Participants were 95 primary caregivers (mostly mothers) and 65 secondary caregivers (mostly fathers) of children (mean age = 4½ years) with developmental disabilities who were clients of the Early Childhood Service, part of Disability Services SA. Children‟s diagnoses included global developmental delay, Down syndrome, and autism. Caring and other activities of parents were assessed using a 24 hour pre-coded time-use diary. Parents also completed questionnaires measuring characteristics of child disability; their experience of time pressure and partner support; and psychological, social and physical well-being. Examination of time-use diaries found parents of children with disabilities spent more time in “active” rather than “passive” caring tasks, than parents of children in the general community. As well, they spent less time in personal care, and less time in recreational activities. Intensity of caring, rather than total time caring was correlated with reports of daily stress for primary caregivers. Patterns of caring and non-caring activities carried out by primary caregivers on weekdays and weekend days differed from those undertaken by secondary caregivers, reflecting gender differences in parenting roles. Analysis of questionnaire data showed children to have high levels of emotional and behavioural problems. Parents (particularly primary caregivers) had significantly poorer psychological, social and physical health outcomes than normative samples. Feelings of time pressure had a stronger association with parental depression than actual time spent caring. Further, testing of the model showed time pressure and partner support to be potential mechanisms by which caring for a child with a disability may lead to poor parental mental health. It is suggested that professionals providing early intervention services need a greater awareness of the constraints of the caring role undertaken by parents, together with the key role played by feelings of time pressure and partner support in contributing to the mental health of parents of children with disabilities. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1346851 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, 2008

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2007 / Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Social Work. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-46).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2006. / Title from title screen (viewed 12 February 2009). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed May 1, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-133)

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). "February, 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-120). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 244-252).