Core Components

Connect© is a universal group-based programme for parents of 8-12 (pre-teens) and 13-17 (teens) year olds across the full range of socio-economic levels with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The programme provides parents with an attachment perspective on parent-child relationships and adolescent development. The aims of the programme are to decrease youth behavioural problems and emotional issues and to increase parent satisfaction. 

Connect© is designed to be delivered by a range of health and education professionals in hospitals, mental health centres, community agencies, and schools. Parents meet in small groups (10-15 people) and the programme is delivered by two trained group leaders for 1.5 hours per week over 10 weeks.  The sessions cover:

• All behaviour has meaning
• Attachment is for life
• Conflict is part of attachment
• Autonomy includes connection
• Empathy
• Balancing Needs
• Growth and change
• Celebrating attachment
• Two steps forward – one step back
• Integration and feedback.

Two booster sessions are also available.

The programme utilises role-plays, exercises, and discussions exploring ways of responding to challenging behaviour and problems, and to provide a new perspective on parent-teen relationships and adolescent development.

The programme is clearly operationalised and includes a well-structured, comprehensive manual with guidance videos, powerpoint presentations and resources needed to deliver the programme. A homework component is not included.

Fidelity

Fidelity is supported by (1) programme manual, (2) standardised training, (3) supervision and, (4) Evaluation feedback forms and measurement protocols.

Modifiable Components

An eConnect© Online programme has been developed as an adaptation to the in-person Connect© programme.  The programme is delivered online using a secure video conferencing platform to support caregivers from different locations to come together to participate in highly interactive and engaging sessions.

Connect© has been translated into French, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish and Swedish.

Support for Organisation / Practice

Connect© was developed in Canada and support for practitioners can be obtained through the Connect© training team.

Implementation Support

Pre-implementation support is available, where the organisational and practitioner readiness is reviewed with the programme developer. During implementation, support is provided by Connect© trainers and through contact with the Connect© Training Team.  Connect© supervisors provide support to trainees on how to engage families and to support program completion.

License Requirements

A licence is not required to deliver this programme.

Start-up Costs

Costs associated can be obtained directly from the Programme Developer.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

Connect© training is suitable for practitioners with a bachelor’s degree and a background in mental health, or those that have education in clinical service delivery with a strong commitment and focus on working with families. Experience in the delivery of group-based interventions is recommended and experience in working with teens or with caregivers of teens is helpful.

Training Requirements

Training is delivered online over six half-days or three full day in-person workshops and focuses on the trauma and attachment foundations and the content of the Connect© programme. The first half day is open to community professionals and stakeholders including clinicians, teachers, law enforcement and community professionals and stakeholders, the remainder only for Connect Facilitator trainees.

Supervision Requirements

Following training, a supervision and certification process takes place during facilitators’ first Connect© Group.  Supervision is provided by a certified Connect© Supervisor who reviews video recordings for all sessions and provides weekly one-hour teleconference or in person supervision. This requires trainees to also review the video recorded sessions weekly in preparation for the supervision session. Typically, facilitators will be certified following supervision of one full group.

Theory of Change

Connect© has been founded based on Attachment Theory recognising that attachment is part of everyone’s life and exists from cradle to grave. Attachment is something shared between a child and a parent who build a relationship together. By understanding that a parent’s behaviour has a powerful impact on the child’s behaviour and development, and the attachment between parent and child, allow parents to respond in ways that support healthy development and a strengthened bond between them.

Values

Connect© believes attachment with caregivers is a biologically based need and that attachment needs are expressed differently as children grow and develop.  

• Is promoting attachment between children and parents to enable children to flourish in terms of health and wellbeing a key value of your service/organisation?

Priorities

Connect© focuses on the core components of secure attachment to promote children’s social, emotional and behavioural adjustment. 

• Is working with parents of children (8-18 years old), in a prevention approach, to help address behavioural problems a priority for your service?
• Is helping parents understand their teens and provide a secure relationship a priority for your organisation?

Existing Initiatives

• Does your service already provide prevention programmes aiming to improve children’s mental health outcomes and coping strategies?
• Does your area have practitioners trained in delivering Connect©?
• Do you have links with CAMHS, Adult Mental Health Services and Child Protection Services to refer onto if required? (9)

Workforce

It is recommended that to deliver Connect© requires 2 practitioners who have completed the mandatory 3-day training and subsequent weekly 1 hour supervision.

• Do you have practitioners willing and able to commit to undertake training?
• Do you have practitioners willing and able to commit to the supervision requirement?
• Do you have practitioners available to commit to delivering the full extent of this programme?

Technology Support

Online training and supervision requires technology that enables web access to teaching, resources, and Zoom.

• Do you have access to adequate technology to support participants to effectively undertake training online and to access all elements of the programme?

Administrative Support

Preparation for each session is minimal requiring only basic administration needs such as printing and scheduling.

• Do you have enough administrative capacity to meet these needs?

Financial Support

To deliver Connect© requires training, training materials, digital resources and delivery of manuals to be obtained directly from the Service Developer.

• Do you have the finances to purchase the training, programme resources?

Comparable Population

Connect© is designed as a targeted programme for parents of children aged 8-12 & 13–17 years with behavioural and emotional problems across the full range of socio-economic levels.

Research has demonstrated significant reductions in child problem behaviours within foster carer’s environment in Canada and Somalian teens in Sweden.

• Is this comparable to the population you serve?
• Does your organisation have existing contacts with this population?
• Are you likely to receive enough referrals/demand for eligible candidates to populate a recurring programme of Connect©?

Desired Outcome

Connect© provides parents with an attachment perspective on parent-child relationships and adolescent development with an aim of improving youth emotional and behavioural difficulties and to increase parent satisfaction. 

Evidence of its effectiveness includes improvements in problem behaviour, caregiver strain and family satisfaction.

• Are improvements in adolescent behavioural difficulties a priority outcome for your organisation?
• Do you have other existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing this need and achieving these outcomes?