The Family Interaction Program (Centre for Developmental Research, Programs and Policy)

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The Family Interaction Program(Centre for
DevelopmentalResearch, Programs and Policy)

• Griffith University Gold Coast Campus
• Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck, PhD, Director
• Senior Lecturer
• School of Psychology

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Purpose of The Family Interaction Program

• Developmental scholarship
• Community focus and societal impact
• Children and adolescents with their support
  persons
• Evidence-based programming and policy
• Quality evaluations / Outcomes research
• Informative
• Utilized
• Program development driven
• Best practice information / dissemination

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Services and Research

• Currently 2 services are provided within The
  Family Interaction Program
• Focus on maltreated children
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
• Sexual Abuse Program for children and caregivers
• Evaluation of the programs (PCIT - Rae Thomas,
  Sexual Abuse Program - Kristy Pinter) PLUS

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Services and Research

• PLUS
• Examination of effectiveness within subgroups
  (Mark Scholes)
• Observational investigations of interactions in
  families
• Emotions (Rae Thomas)
• Coercion and escalation of negative interactions
  (Kate McCarthy)
• Studies of children in other contexts outside the
  family (Angela Anthonysamy)
• Examinations and summaries of evidence (Melanie
  Zimmer-Gembeck, Rae Thomas)

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Current Work

• A research centre first and foremost
• Trial programs and disseminate
• Make effective programs available
• For example, PCIT in 2006
• Basic research (Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck)
• Development of antisocial behaviour/aggression
  (Nicki Crick, Byron Egeland, Tasha Geiger, Tracey
  Hunter, Rhiarne Pronk, Melissa Williams)
• Stress and coping in children and adolescents
  (Danielle Sutton, Alison Bocquee)
• Child obesity, exercise and health (Jillian
  Joyce)
• Stress and coping in young adults and other
  groups (Carolyn Vickers, Karen White)
• Sexual behaviour and relationships (Byron
  Egeland, Sharon Horne, Jillian Petherick, Jess
  Siebenbruner, Tammie Wilkinson)
• Relationships and well-being / depression (Karen
  Dacre, Tracey Hunter, Carolyn Vickers)
• Development of the self (Michelle Hanisch)

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Future Directions

• A research centre first and foremost
• Assist with program development and evaluation
• Can there be improvements in current programs?
• Mechanisms of change
• For whom is a program effective and why?
• Evidence-based Policies depend on useful
  information
• Assist policymakers to make decisions
• Best practice reports
• Analyses/summaries of the evidence
• Recommendations
• Responsive to policymakers needs
• Also proactive