Developing the Support, Teambuilding, and Referral (STAR) Intervention: A Research/Community Partnership

Abstract

This paper describes the process by which child mental health researchers partnered with paraprofessionals called peer family advisors to create a stress-reducing intervention for caregivers of children and adolescents with mental health challenges. The issues that arose as the team strove to develop an intervention that was both relevant to the issues that these caregivers grapple with, as well as palatable and feasible for peers to deliver, are discussed.

Innovations in the Identification and Referral of Mothers at Risk for Depression: Development of a Peer-to-Peer Model

“…During the first six months of the project, the authors met with 12 family peer advocates to develop the intervention (see Cavaleri et al, 2010, for the procedure and a description of intervention). The remaining six months were dedicated to delivering the three-session protocol to 10 caregivers.…”

“…The impetus for this project came from three sources: (a) the high risk of depression among mothers of children with mental health needs in a low income and ethnically diverse population (Miranda et al, 2003), b) high rates of under detection and limited engagement in mental health services among this population (Abrams et al, 2009; Miranda et al, 2003; Smith et al, 2004); and, c) an identified need expressed by professional family peer advocates in New York City underscoring their concern about the growing number of mothers experiencing feelings of sadness and distress, and their need for skills and training to appropriately address these mothers’ mental health needs (Cavaleri et al, 2010). …”

Building bridges and breaking down silos: A framework for developing interdisciplinary, international academic-community research collaborations for the benefit of sexual and gender minority youth

“…Demand and uptake of research partnerships have seen a gradual increase in recent years both nationally and internationally (Childs & Potter, 2014;Lantz et al, 2001;Riemer et al, 2012;Schensul et al, 2006). This cross-disciplinary trend is evident in disability studies (Gomez et al, 2018), social work (Dentato et al, 2010;Karban & Ngandu, 2017;Sanders-Phillips et al, 2009), criminal justice (Childs & Potter, 2014), public health (Halbert et al, 2006;Hampton et al, 2007;Lantz et al, 2001;Soltani et al, 2017), and mental health (Ayers & Arch, 2013;Cavaleri et al, 2010;Horsfall et al, 2010;Meza et al, 2016;Riemer et al, 2012;Schensul et al, 2006) to name a few.…”

“…Research partnerships have the potential to produce more comprehensive knowledge, increased impact, and greater change in practice and policy than studies conducted by a single institution or without engagement from key stakeholders in the community, non-profit organisations, and industry (Cavaleri et al, 2010;Gomez et al, 2018;Horsfall et al, 2010;Melese et al, 2009;Meza et al, 2016). Partnerships offer significant benefits to researchers and communities.…”

Quality Indicators for Multidisciplinary Team Functioning in Community-Based Children’s Mental Health Services

“…One emerging multidisciplinary team model within the child mental health system is a peer-based model, in which adult family members of children with serious emotional and behavioral disorders work as family support specialists (FSS) alongside case managers, mental health clinicians, and other professionals, providing outreach, information, advocacy, and emotional support to families (Cavaleri et al 2010; Hoagwood and Kolko 2009; Hoagwood et al 2010; Winters and Metz 2009). FSSs, who have experience caring for a child with identified mental health needs and navigating child-serving systems, are in a special position to interact with parents whose children are being treated in the children’s mental health system.…”