Parents as Tender Healers (PATH)

Note: The Parents as Tender Healers (PATH) program declined to participate in the CEBC review process. The following information was obtained from publicly available sources.

Scientific Rating:
4
Effectiveness Unknown
See scale of 1-6

Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:
1
High
See scale of 1-3

Child Welfare Outcomes: None indicated.

Brief Description:

Parents as Tender Healers (PATH) has been rated by the CEBC in the area of Placement Stabilization. PATH is a ten-week curriculum developed to train prospective foster parents. Sessions are intended to help parents decide whether fostering or adoption is appropriate for them. Sessions address:

How resource families differ from birth families.
How and why children in the welfare system develop survival behaviors.
The different roles of birth, legal, and caregiving parents.
Characteristics of successful resource families.
The types of abuse and neglect experienced within the child welfare system, survival behaviors developed, and the emotional issues underlying these behaviors.
The impact of separation and trauma on children and the importance of emotional attachment.
Understanding issues faced by children in transition and identifying existing and future family strengths and support.
Tools and techniques to help children develop attachment.
Disciplinary techniques for children who have experienced trauma.

The final session consists of a panel discussion with experienced Resource parents and children.

Manual and Training section:
There is a handbook available by request from http://www.nrcadoption.org.

Relevant Research:
There are no peer-reviewed, outcome research studies about PATH.

References:
There are no published reference articles about PATH.

Contact Information
Affiliation/Agency: Spaulding for Children
Phone: (248)443-7080
E-mail:
Website:

Date review compiled: July 2007