388 - Bridging the Gap: A Needs Assessment for a communication-building parenting curriculum for parents in a faith-based community in North America

Poster Number: 388
Publication Number: 388.272

Background: Immigration has led to the establishment of faith based communities from around the world in North America. We focused on a Muslim faith-based community based in India with members worldwide and a large congregation in North America. Many members have immigrated to America in the past 25 years from India, Pakistan and countries in Africa. Others immigrated 25+ years ago and have raised both 1st and 2nd generation children. These parents have unique experiences parenting children in American society in the background of the community’s cultural traditions. We hypothesize that many may feel ill-equipped with communication techniques needed to parent children in American society while balancing cultural beliefs. We hypothesize that children of these parents may feel isolated in their experience and note challenges in their parents’ understanding of their experience as American pre-teens and teenagers.

Objective: To understand the need and important content areas for a parenting curriculum for parents by understanding perspectives of parents and children within the community.

Design/Methods: Three needs assessment surveys were created for parents of children ages 10yo-16yo, pre-teens 10yo-12yo and teens 13yo-16yo. We selected Chicago, Houston and Orange County which represent some of the US bases for this community for survey dissemination. Surveys were disseminated electronically and results collected anonymously. Parents consented to their minor children completing a survey. 150 parent, 46 10yo-12yo and 53 13yo-16yo surveys were completed. Comparisons between the parent and child surveys were considered and qualitative free text data were examined for themes.

Results: 76% of parents indicate they want to learn best practices for parenting communication. 60% of 10yo-12yo and 74% of 13yo-16yo want their parents to have conversations with them about mental health however 36% of parents note this topic to be challenging. Content area themes that emerged for both parents and children include understanding parenting styles, social-emotional environments and the American educational system. Communication techniques for mental health conversations and physical and relational health topics also emerged as themes. 90% of 13yo-16yo and 76% of parents note that a communication-based parenting curriculum would be beneficial.

Conclusion(s): The needs assessment data supports the need and delineates content areas from both parents and children’s perspectives for a communication-building parenting curriculum. Next steps include curriculum creation and then dissemination and evaluation.