Funded Projects

Connected Families, Stronger Communities

Project Year

2025

City & State

Douglas, Arizona

Program Name

CATCH Implementation

Topic

Parenting/Parent Education

Program Description

Problem Parenting has a profound impact on childhood development, with parental stress significantly affecting the quality of caregiving and the parent-child relationship. In August 2024, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory, Parents Under Pressure, emphasized the severe mental health challenges facing parents today. The advisory highlighted the critical connection between parental mental health and children’s well-being.  A January 2024 study reported that over 33% of pediatric cases involve behavioral health needs, yet only one-quarter of providers feel equipped to address these concerns independently and 80% of practices struggle to find adequate resources. The AAP declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health in 2021 due to the increasing prevalence of pediatric mental health issues and limited access to care.  Primary Setting The burden of parenting stress and limited mental health resources is magnified in communities with systemic inequities, such as Douglas, Arizona. Douglas faces higher language, education, and income barriers than county and state averages. Despite its needs, Douglas lacks sufficient pediatric behavioral health services. The town’s three mental health centers lack pediatric-trained therapists, and all psychologist and psychiatrist visits are virtual. Schools also face limitations, with only two behavioral health workers across four elementary schools.  Project Goal The goal of this project is to improve parent-child relationships and emotional well-being by providing Douglas families with stress-relief tools, parenting strategies, and community support to address behavioral and emotional challenges.  Proposed Intervention This project will implement weekly parent-child groups for two age cohorts (4-9 years and 13-18 years). The 6-week program (1.5 hours/week) will be limited to eight families per cohort and be offered during early evening hours to maximize accessibility. There will be cohorts in English and cohorts in Spanish per parent preference.   The intervention consists of three core components: 1. Community Building: Creating safe spaces for children and parents to socialize, connect, and learn with others facing similar challenges 2. Brain Development Education: Teaching parents about brain development, stress management, and effective strategies for addressing behavior and communication challenges 3. Self-Care: Practicing evidence-based mind-body techniques to support the parent-child relationship and emotional regulation skills.   Activities will take place in a thoughtfully designed brain-building space created by community partner Elisa Castro, a preschool teacher and Montessori graduate student. Each session will include time for both joint parent-child activities and parent-only group discussions focused on curriculum review and self-care, while the kids continue to play in guided activities by Elisa. Self-care will focus on the parents, but basic self-care practices will also be taught to the children.   Number of Children Affected Douglas is home to 1,121 school-age children and 2,992 teenagers. While the exact number of children or parents with behavioral or stress-related concerns is unknown, the program aims to reach a substantial portion of these families, welcoming any caregiver with children in the target age groups. The program particularly hopes to reach foster parents, adoptive parents, and caregivers of kinship care.   Anticipated Outcomes Through this program, Douglas families will experience stronger parent-child bonds and increased confidence in managing their daily emotional challenges. Parents will move from feeling isolated in their parenting journey to feeling connected with others and finding support in other community members. Children and parents will develop skills for emotional regulation and stress management, and children will be better equipped for success at home and school.  This program will strengthen referral networks between parents, medical providers, and community organizations, leading to improved access to resources for families. Ultimately, the program will contribute to a happier, healthier Douglas through stronger children, families, and community networks.

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to improve parent-child relationships and emotional well-being by providing Douglas families with stress-relief tools, parenting strategies, and community support to address behavioral and emotional challenges.

Project Objective 1

Graduate at least 50 school age and teenage children, and 50 of their caregivers, in Douglas, from the English or Spanish 6-week parent-child cohort by June 2026

Project Objective 2

By June 2026, at least 90% of children and parents who graduate from the parent-child groups will identify and have confidence practicing at least two mind-body techniques that help them regulate emotions, manage stress, and maintain calm

Project Objective 3

By December 2025, establish referral partnerships (to and from the program) with at least five community organizations, including mental health agencies, daycares, and schools, to facilitate affordable and accessible participation in the program for families.

AAP District

District VIII

Institutional Name

Luna Salvia

Contact 1

Jeffrey Holzberg, MD, MSc