Child and Family Resilience: Health Impacts and Interventions

Catalog description

This class offers an exploration of family and childhood resilience. In a world where children confront an array of formidable challenges, spanning from global crises like poverty and displacement to national issues such as escalating social disparities and mounting childhood trauma, it is imperative to recognize their innate capacity to surmount adversity. In this class, we will discuss how robust social support networks - such as friendships, mentorships, and community initiatives - play a pivotal role in fostering a child's resilience amidst adversity and serve as protective factors in nurturing cohesive family structures. Furthermore, examining the role of community partners in bolstering resilience will unveil the intricate network of support crucial for vulnerable populations. Students will leave the course with a profound understanding of how families collectively navigate challenges, illuminating their dynamic responses as a cohesive unit while recognizing the child's experience with adversity and a family's response. With this understanding, they will be better prepared as future healthcare providers to support families in navigating adversity. This is a Cardinal Course certified by the Haas Center for Public Service.