A digital intervention pilot to address the mental health issues of siblings of children with special needs

Led by Dr. Shannon Scratch, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and Dr. Alex Elkader, Kinark Child & Family Services

Siblings of children with disabilities are at much greater risk for developing mental health problems, including social, emotional and behavioural problems, and are frequently overlooked when families are provided with services. Often siblings “suffer silently” due to feeling guilt and the need to be perfect to avoid adding stress on the family. SibworkS is a in-person group intervention that exclusively focuses on the cognitive behaviour of siblings. The six-week program strengthens their perceived social support, self-esteem, problem-solving skills and adaptive coping behaviors, while promoting positive sibling relationships. A randomized control trial showed that SibworkS led to overall improved emotional and behavioural functioning in siblings, with a medium to large effect post-intervention that was maintained through the three-month follow-up period. This grant will help to develop i-SibworkS into a virtual alternative that will be tested in three different cities in Ontario, with the ultimate goal of scaling its reach and accessibility.

A SNAP app to help children with behavioural problems and their families develop coping skills at home

Led by Dr. Leena K. Augimeri, University of Toronto & Child Development Institute, and Dr. Lynn Ryan MacKenzie, Child Development Institute

Stop Now And Plan (SNAP) is an in-person, gender-specific program that teaches children ages 6 to 11 with behavioural problems, and their parents, how to make better choices “in the moment.” SNAP teaches boys and girls how to increase their emotional regulation and problem-solving skills. It is highly regarded as “the most fully developed and longest-sustained intervention to date for juvenile delinquents” and “the best evidence-based program for aggressive children with serious violent and chronic potential.” This grant will help to develop an accessible app version of SNAP to help children and families develop coping skills at home – more important than ever because of COVID-19. The research team will engage youth who have participated in the SNAP program to co-design the user-friendly app and its interactive programming. They will then pilot test the app among two cohorts of youth from both Northern and Southern Ontario, and track and evaluate its effectiveness.

A virtual parent-led support group for parents of children and youth with eating disorders

Led by Dr. Jennifer Couturier, McMaster University, and Erica Crews, Danielle’s Place/Reach Out Centre for Kids

The benefits of parent-led peer support groups are well-documented in the literature for children with disabilities: they provide a sense of belonging and help parents to better deal with the world and advocate for their children. However, for parents of children and adolescents with eating disorders, there are no reports that examine the acceptability, cost and parent outcomes (caregiver burden, needs and self-efficacy) of participating in a virtual parent-led support group. This grant will address this knowledge gap by establishing two virtual parent-led support groups, one in Northern Ontario and one in Southern Ontario. The investigative team, using qualitative and quantitative methodology, will track and evaluate the immediate and long-term impact of the group sessions on the participating parents and their children. Employing elements of caregiver groups, these parent-led groups aim to address social isolation, teach coping skills and instill hope; if successful, this group model could be scaled and made accessible to parents across Ontario and beyond.