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| Behavioral Parent Consultation and Support: A Strengths-Based Perspective |
| Saturday, May 29, 2010 |
| 8:00 AM–11:00 AM |
| Bowie A (Grand Hyatt) |
| Area: AUT/CBM; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| CE Instructor: Linda Hayes, Ph.D. |
| BARBARA O'MALLEY CANNON (Melmark New England), JESSICA R. EVERETT (Melmark New England) |
| Description: Empirical research has reliably demonstrated that the parents of children with autism spectrum disorders experience higher levels of stress related to parenting than do parents of children with a variety of other disabilities, health concerns, and parents of typically developing children. In contrast to earlier research, more recent research has taken a strengths-based perspective and investigated what aspects of parenting promote resiliency and help to moderate the effects of stress. Best practice in the education of students with autism includes parent involvement. Often times, a parent training component is included to enhance generalization of skills and to give parents the needed skills to effectively intervene with their children. This skill-focused approach to working with parents has been shown to be effective in increasing parenting skills and reducing stress related to parenting. However, behavioral parent consultation should also consider the role that preexisting parenting strengths play as setting events and incorporate these strengths into individually designed intervention strategies. The present workshop will explore strengths-based approaches to behavioral parent consultation. Various assessment strategies will be reviewed to assist in the identification of parenting strengths, variables that moderate parenting stress will be reviewed, as will strategies for working directly with parents taking this approach. |
| Learning Objectives: At the completion of the workshop, participants will be able to do the following:
1. identify tools used to assess parenting strengths,
2. identify variables that moderate stress related to parenting and detail how these variables can be incorporated into behavioral parent training,
3. identify a variety of parenting strengths and demonstrate how to incorporate strengths into intervention techniques. |
| Activities: Workshop activities include didactic instruction, discussion, and role-play. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in small group activities that focus on designing intervention and practicing described techniques for behavioral parent training. |
| Audience: Individuals working with parents in home, school, or clinic-based settings such as psychologists, special education teachers, or behavior analysts. |
| Content Area: Practice |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |