Topic: Emotional Competency, Grief & Loss, Parenting
Target Population: Adolescents, Middle Childhood, Parents
Sector: Community-Based, Medical Setting
This program is for youth who are 8 to 18 years old who have lost a parent/caregiver and the surviving parent/caregiver.
The Family Bereavement Program (FBP), a community-based or clinical program, is designed to enhance parenting skills, teach helpful coping methods, foster constructive communication, and create and sustain healthy parent-child relationships following the recent death of a parent or caregiver.
One internal randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of FBP has been conducted. Overall, results suggest multiple program benefits for caregivers and youth. At posttest, results indicated the program favorably impacted positive parenting practices, youth internalizing behaviors, caregiver mental health symptoms, and caregiver and youth grief responses. These effects were found to persist 6 years after the end of the program even though no effect was found 11 months after the program concluded for positive parenting practices or caregiver mental health symptoms. In addition, positive effects were found 6 years following the program on caregiver alcohol problems, youth externalizing behaviors, and youth dysregulated stress responses. Results from a follow-up conducted 15 years after program completion indicated lower mental health problems in young adults as reported by key informants, self-reported use of fewer mental health services and psychiatric medications by young adults, self-reported lower rates of alcoholism and less use of support groups by parents, and reduced suicide risk among young adults.
FBP utilizes group-based sessions for the surviving parent/caregiver, and it offers concurrent group sessions for youth. Youth and caregivers attend some small-group sessions jointly and some separately. Skills are learned through a combination of role-play, home-based practice, and collaborative group activities.
Sessions include the following topics:
The caregiver and youth sessions target the same risk and protective factors; however, the specific topics and content for each session are adapted based on age and developmental level of attendees.
No information was available regarding the extent to which FBP has been previously implemented.
The youth and caregiver groups are facilitated by two master's-level counselors, and an initial 3-day, on-site training is required for group facilitators. A train-the-trainer model is also available. The group leaders attend 40 hours of training before starting the program and 2 hours weekly of ongoing training during the program. A group leader manual is required and available for purchase for $200. For more information on training and associated costs, please use details in the Contact section.
Considerations for implementing this program include securing and training qualified staff, acquiring youth and caregiver/parent buy-in, realizing sensitive subjects will be discussed, and locating adequate space to hold sessions.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing FBP, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
FBP consists of 12-weekly, 2-hour sessions for caregivers and youth. Caregivers and youth attend eight sessions separately and four sessions together. For caregivers, two additional individual, 1-hour sessions are offered and tailored to the specific needs of each family.
Implementation costs vary. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.
To move FBP to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one external evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted independently of the program developer.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact Dr. Irwin Sandler by phone 602-825-3023, email irwin.sandler@asu.edu, or visit https://reachinstitute.asu.edu/programs/family-bereavement
https://reachinstitute.asu.edu/programs/family-bereavement and Ayers (2014).
Danvers, A. F., Scott, B. G., Shiota, M. N., Tein, J., Wolchik, S. A., & Sandler, I. I. (2020). Effects of therapeutic intervention on parentally bereaved children’s emotion reactivity and regulation 15 years later. Prevention Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-020-01142-2
Hagan, M. J., Tein, J., Sandler, I. N., Wolchik, S. A., Ayers, T. S., & Luecken, L. J. (2012). Strengthening effective parenting practices over the long term: Effects of a preventive intervention for parentally bereaved families. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 41(2), 177-188. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2012.651996
Luecken, L. J., Hagan, M. J., Sandler, I. N., Tein, J., Ayers, T. S., & Wolchik, S. A. (2010). Cortisol levels six-years after participation in the Family Bereavement Program. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(5), 785-789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.11.002
Sandler, I., Ayers, T. S., Tein, J., Wolchik, S., Millsap, R., Khoo, S. T., … Coxe, S. (2010). Six-year follow-up of a preventive intervention for parentally bereaved youths: A randomized controlled trial. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164(10), 907-914. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.173
Sandler, I. N., Ayers, T. S., Wolchik, S. A., Tein, J., Kwok, O., Haine, R. A., … Griffin, W. A. (2003). The Family Bereavement Program: Efficacy evaluation of a theory-based prevention program for parentally bereaved children and adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71(3), 587-600. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.71.3.587
Sandler, I., Gunn, H., Mazza, G., Tein, J., Wolchik, S., Kim, H., … Porter, M. (2018). Three perspectives on mental health problems of young adults and their parents at a 15-year follow-up of the family bereavement program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(10), 845-855. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000327
Sandler, I. N., Ma, Y., Tein, J., Ayers, T. S., Wolchik, S., Kennedy, C., & Millsap, R. (2010). Long-term effects of the Family Bereavement Program on multiple indicators of grief in parentally bereaved children and adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 131-143. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018393
Sandler, I., Tein, J., Cham, H., Wolchik, S., & Ayers, T. (2016). Long-term effects of the Family Bereavement Program on spousally bereaved parents: Grief, mental health problems, alcohol problems, and coping efficacy. Development and Psychopathology, 28(3), 801-818. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579416000328
Sandler, I., Tein, J., Wolchik, S., & Ayers, T. S. (2016). The effects of the Family Bereavement Program to reduce suicide ideation and/or attempts of parentally bereaved children six and fifteen years later. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 46, S32-S38. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12256
Schmiege, S. J., Khoo, S. T., Sandler, I. N., Ayers, T. S., & Wolchik, S. A. (2006). Symptoms of internalizing and externalizing problems: Modeling recovery curves after the death of a parent. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 31(6), S152-S160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2006.07.004
Schoenfelder, E. N., Tein, J., Wolchik, S., & Sandler, I. N. (2015). Effects of the Family Bereavement Program on academic outcomes, educational expectations and job aspirations 6 years later: The mediating role of parenting and youth mental health problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43(2), 229-241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9905-6
Zhang, N., Sandler, I., Tein, J., & Wolchik, S. (2021). Reducing suicide risk in parentally bereaved youth through promoting effective parenting: Testing a developmental cascade model. Development and Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579421001474
Ayers, T. S., Wolchik, S. A., Sandler, I. N., Twohey, J. L., Weyer, J. L., Padgett-Jones, S., … Kriege, G. (2014). The Family Bereavement Program: Description of a theory-based prevention program for parentally-bereaved children and adolescents. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 69(4), 293-314.
Luecken, L. J., Hagan, M. J., Sandler, I. N., Tein, J., Ayers, T. S., & Wolchik, S. A. (2014). Longitudinal mediators of a randomized prevention program effect on cortisol for youth from parentally bereaved families. Prevention Science, 15(2), 224-232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0385-7
Sandler, I. N., Ayers, T. S., & Romer, A. L. (2002). Fostering resilience in families in which a parent has died. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 5(6), 945-956. https://doi.org/10.1089/10966210260499195
Schoenfelder, E. N., Sandler, I. N., Millsap, R. E., Wolchik, S. A., Berkel, C., & Ayers, T. S. (2013). Caregiver responsiveness to the Family Bereavement Program: What predicts responsiveness? what does responsiveness predict? Prevention Science, 14(6), 545-556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0337-7
Tein, J., Sandler, I. N., Ayers, T. S., & Wolchik, S. A. (2006). Mediation of the effects of the Family Bereavement Program on mental health problems of bereaved children and adolescents. Prevention Science, 7(2), 179-195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-006-0037-2
Weber, M., Alvariza, A., Kreicbergs, U., & Sveen, J. (2019). Adaptation of a grief and communication family support intervention for parentally bereaved families in Sweden. Death Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2019.1661883
