Supporting children of parents with mental health problems through professionally assisted lay support – the “godparents” program

Abstract

Children with parents with mental health problems have an increased risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Nonetheless, services for these children are still scarce in Switzerland. Therefore, an innovative program was developed, implemented, and evaluated in close practitioner-researcher cooperation. The program aims to support these children by providing lay supporters as so-called “godparents” to them. The program evaluation shows that the continuity of contacts between children and godparents builds the ground for a relationship that fosters the children’s development and relieves their parents. A carefully undertaken process of matching families with godparents appears to be crucial for a lasting godparenthood. However, a main challenge is the acquisition of godparents, who engage on a voluntary basis in the program.

Keywords:

• Children of parents with mental illness
• family social work
• practitioner-researcher cooperation
• lay support
• program development

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Renate Gutmann, PhD, for her initiative in bringing the program on its way, and Franza Flechl for her commitment and endurance as a coordinator.

Additional information

Funding

For the duration of the cooperation process described above, the godparents for children of parents with mental illness project, including the authors work in the different steps of cooperation, was funded by an independent nonprofit Swiss foundation named 3FO (http://www.3fo.ch/de/index.php). The foundation provides, among others, funding for projects and activities supporting and empowering disadvantaged children, youth, and families. The funding source and its representatives were not involved in planning or designing the program; in the cooperation between researchers/authors and practitioners; in data collection, analysis, and interpretation; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article.