Develop and Implement a Communication Module For Parents Of 14-18 Year Old Adolescents With Mental Health Problems

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a communication module for developing effective communication skills for parents of adolescents 14-18 years old with mental health problems. The goal was to improve prosocial behaviors and treatment outcomes. Adolescents are influenced by the family system and parenting skills/approaches affect the behavior of children. The problem statement, objectives, literature review, implementation and evaluation, and summary of the scholarly projected are included. Communication is either lacking and/or dysfunctional between adolescents with behavioral health disorders and their parents. A parent communication skills group will facilitate parenting training for effective communication to multiple sets of parents at one time. The objectives included: (1) Develop and implement a parenting communication skills module. (2) Measure and evaluate parents' acquired knowledge and effective application of communication skills. (3) Disseminate project outcomes. The literature review supports the efficacy of parenting communication skills development to improve treatment outcomes for adolescents with mental health/behavioral problems. Decades of research demonstrate a consistent link between family communication between adolescents and parents and the development of prosocial behaviors and psychosocial adjustment (Rueter & Koerner, 2008). First, a parental communication skills module was developed by identifying specific effective communication skills. Second, the module was implemented by: (a) obtaining IRB approval, (b) recruiting 8 participants and (c) presenting the module to the participants. Third, a questionnaire was created and administered to participants before and after the module presentation. The questionnaire asked parents to evaluate the importance and likelihood that they would implement the specific skills presented in the module. The results indicated an increase in both importance and likelihood of implementation of the skills. Finally, project findings were prepared for presentations for agencies that work with troubled teens and their parents. In summary, mental illness affects millions of adolescents and is often exhibited by externalizing behaviors including ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct disorder. A link exists between effective communication and positive outcomes in adolescent development and treatment. In this project the approach to the problem is by focusing on the family. Specifically, the objective is to improve parent communication skills. A parental communication skills module was developed and implemented and it is recommended that a complete parenting skills group be developed including the communication module.