Background
The intersection of positive psychology and disability emphasizes strengths-based approaches to support the well-being for all people (Shogren, 2013). However, existing research and practice in many countries is primarily reactive, deficit-oriented, child-centered, expert-provided service-provision model. Such resource-intensive approaches place formidable stress on families, who must provide care/support for their children without adequate training/resources to manage the wellbeing of themselves and their children (Kandel & Merrick, 2003).
Parent-centered proactive support programs represent value-added solutions to reduce distress, improve wellbeing, and sense of belonging (Moore, 2016). Built upon positive psychology principles, the Now and Next (N&N) program is a group-based peer-support program that aims to empower and address the needs of parents of children with disabilities (Heyworth et al., 2017). The program includes the innovative Pictability strengths-based tool and peer-led sessions.
Method & Results
An initial evaluation of the program based on the 154 parents that participated in the program between January 2017 and March 2018. The program effectively engaged participants from diverse backgrounds, including non-English speaking families and fathers. Findings showed significant increases in parent empowerment, knowledge, attitudes, participation, hope, agency, strategies, and wellbeing, with 97% families reporting having achieved their goals though participation in the program. Further evaluation with a diverse international sample of 561 parents nested in 58 groups (female =74.59%; non-English speaker = 40.17%), tested with a priori three-level multilevel models for each outcome supported the effectiveness of N&N program on parents' wellbeing, hopes in life, and sense of empowerment, with treatment effects varying based on group characteristics.
Conclusion
Potential mechanisms include the development of wellbeing literacy, grounding in systems informed positive psychology, parent-to-parent contact, the sequenced structure of learning, innovative tools, and the focus on short-term achievable goals. The program offers a highly promising model that could serve as an adjunct or supplement to existing pathways and models of disability care, with potential applications to people across the ability spectrum.