Strongest Families Neurodevelopmental Program (Strongest Families ND)
Children with brain-based developmental disabilities often face emotional and behavioural difficulties. These challenges can negatively impact their quality of life and the quality of life of their families. Our Strongest FamiliesTM project explores whether emotional and behavioural regulation can be improved in children with neurodisabilities through parenting programs that include education, telephone support, parent-to-parent connections, and resource information.
The team provided a project update at the 2022 CHILD-BRIGHT Virtual Symposium. View it here.
Research theme:
BRIGHT Supports: Projects to integrate mental health into care
Age range:
3–14 years
Start date:
October 2016
Principal Investigators:
Patrick J. McGrath, IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health Authority
Dr. Lucyna Lach, McGill University Health Centre, Researcher, CRIR - Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre (Mackay Site), CIUSSS West-Central Montreal
Website:
www.crfh.ca/neuro
Contact
Karen McEwan
Coordinator, IWK Health Centre
Toll-free: 1-877-341-8309 (ext. 1-1) | Email
Newsletter
Our team publishes a regular newsletter, and we are excited to share it with you. Read our first issue by clicking below, and subscribe to receive future issues.
view our map
View our map to see where our Strongest Families Neurodevelopmental Parent Advisory Committee & Clinical Informants are located.
2020-21 Project Update
2019-20 Project Update
In April 2019, the Strongest Families Neurodevelopmental study was ramping up and began enrolling families into a pan-Canadian study testing the effectiveness of the Parents Empowering Neurodiverse Kids online parenting program. With over 250 families currently taking part in the study, we are more than halfway to our recruitment goal and continue to work with our Parent Advisors to get the word out to families who may benefit from taking part in the study.
This year also saw the beginning of a new and exciting project entitled “Life Beyond Trauma”, a 1-on-1 online health program for parents of neurodiverse children who have experienced trauma associated with their children’s health and well-being. Elisa Kaltenbach, PhD, an expert in Narrative Exposure Therapy, arrived from Germany to coordinate the project. A second Parent Advisory Committee was established whose members contribute their expertise to all phases of this project, including development of program materials, study design, spreading the news about the study and interpretation of the results.
Project News
