Resilience of Families Living in Poverty

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways that community social workers reflect the established literature on family resilience. This exploratory study involved semistructured group interviews with community social workers from an urban agency that serves families who are poor. The analysis was completed by comparing Walsh's “Key Processes in Family Resilience” with the responses from the participants in the group interviews. Specifically, Walsh (2002) identifies three domains of resilient families, including belief systems, organizational patterns, and communication processes. These were used as reference points for comparison. The interviews with the community social workers revealed a connection between using positive beliefs, thinking, and taking action steps that define a resilient family. This only becomes possible in the context of supportive internal family relations and external community connections. While the community social workers affirm elements of the established models of family resilience, they also emphasized its dynamic nature as the interplay of positive family beliefs combined with action steps and support from the community.

KEYWORDS:

• Community connections
• family beliefs
• poverty
• resilience
• resilient families
• urban families

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Walter J. Mullin

Walter J. Mullin, PhD, LICSW, is Associate Professor, Springfield College School of Social Work.

Miguel Arce

Miguel Arce, MSW, is Assistant Professor, Springfield College School of Social Work.