Mitigating mental health disparities in low socioeconomic children through effective parenting

M. Okafor, D. Sarpong, A. Ferguson and D. Satcher

Low socioeconomic status is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and prevalence of diagnosable mental disorder. Though studies have examined parenting strengths among African Americans (AAs), most of the existing parenting education curricula being used by AA families are not developed with active participation of AA mothers, fathers, siblings, caregivers or grandparents. Objectives: This study assesses the effectiveness of Smart and Secured Children Parenting Curriculum, a community based participatory parenting curriculum. Methods: Delivery of the SSC curriculum and data collection was carried out by peer parents. Mixed methods were used for data collection and analysis of the effectiveness of SSC in improving parents' knowledge and skills in child development and mental health assessment based on a 14-item Adult Mental Well-Being and Depression Survey. Descriptive statistics and matched paired analytic methods were employed. Results: Findings from a one-year pilot suggest that social support of parents reduced isolation, parents were highly motivated and positively sought opportunities to improve their parenting skills in raising a smart and secure child. Emerged themes of impact of SSC were as follows. Improvements: Developing their child's physical, cognitive and emotional skills; understanding link between brain development and earlier holistic child development; being the child's first teacher; and communicating and reacting to child's problems. Areas of needed improvements: Creating positive environment; being more nurturing; and developing child's self-confidence and self-awareness. Conclusion: Effective parenting curriculum such as SSC shows great promise in mitigating mental health disparities in low socioeconomic children.