Using technology-assisted programs to empower parents of children with adverse childhood experiences, to prevent internalising problems: A mixed-methods investigation

The Centre of Research Excellence in Childhood Adversity (CRE) is a five-year research program co-funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Beyond Blue. The CRE brings together people with lived experience and their families, practitioners, educators, researchers and policy makers from education, health and human services in a concerted effort to develop an improved response to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and associated depression, anxiety and suicidality. The vision of the CRE is to prevent the significant mental health morbidity load of depression, anxiety problems and suicidality experienced by children living in adversity and exposed to adverse childhood experiences. To achieve this vision, the CRE program is structured into three phases: 1) Reviewing current evidence on strategies to prevent and respond to childhood adversity and associated depression, anxiety and suicidality 2) Co-developing and piloting an evidence-informed integrated intervention in two communities (informed by phase 1) 3) Developing a policy and evaluation framework for scaling up the intervention The ultimate goal is to translate the research findings from each phase into policy and practice so that the work of the CRE will lead to sustained improvements in the mental health of Australians. The CRE is currently seeking expressions of interest from outstanding PhD applicants. Applicants' research interests must be aligned with the aims of the CRE. A particularly exciting project on offer is a mixed-methods study to examine the acceptability and usefulness of technology-assisted programs to empower parents of children with adverse childhood experiences, to prevent internalising problems. Technology-assisted programs can facilitate accessibility for parents who, for reasons of cost, stigma, distance or other socio-economic barriers, may not otherwise be able to benefit from such resources. For families experiencing adversity, these accessibility barriers are especially prevalent. The aims of this project are to: a) Review the current evidence on technology-assisted parenting interventions designed to prevent and respond to childhood adversity and associated depression and anxiety, to identify strategies that are effective in engaging and supporting parents b) Conduct stakeholder consultations with families, practitioners, and policy makers to understand from various stakeholder perspectives in what ways these interventions could be appropriately adapted and delivered in real-world local settings. c) Adapt an existing evidence-based online program based on these findings for parents of children living with adversity d) Conduct a pilot evaluation of the adapted program via the CRE community hubs, to investigate the program’s acceptability and effectiveness in improving the target parenting factors, as well as child depression and anxiety symptoms, and the long-term feasibility of such a program. This project would suit a PhD or Clinical Psychology PhD candidate, ideally with experience working with vulnerable families and children.