Contextual Modifications of an Evidence-Based Program Fostering Resilience in National Guard and Reserve Families

Military deployment of a parent is a risk factor for children’s internalizing and externalizing problems (Aranda, Middleton, Flake, & Davis, 2011; Flake, Davis, Johnson, & Middleton, 2009).  This risk may be heightened in National Guard and Reserve (NG/R) families who tend to be isolated from other NG/R families without the benefit of the centralized support systems for active duty military families living on military bases (Clever & Segal, 2013).  Isolation and high rates of trauma-related disorders complicate the adjustment of military families during reintegration (Gorman, Blow, Ames, & Reed, 2011).  An evidence based parent training intervention, PMTO, was modified with consideration given to military culture and other contextual variables to meet the unique needs of reintegrating NG/R parents with the goal of enhancing children’s resilience to parental deployment.  Parental engagement and satisfaction with the modified ADAPT program are reported.  Significantly greater engagement was found in parenting groups led by a military-connected facilitator F(1, 153) = 6.96, p = .01. Mothers reported greater satisfaction with parenting groups than fathers F(1,233) = 3.86, p = .05, while there were no gender differences in attendance rates. Results are discussed in the context of engagement and satisfaction reported for similar programs.  The implications for working with military families are presented.