The reasons for dropouts from family strengthening programs

Abstract

Family Strengthening Approach (FSA) means total development of the family system at community level for enhancing child and family wellbeing and deinstitutionalizing children to promote family and community level intervention in Sri Lanka. The FSA for the provision of care and welfare of children and families has become an increasingly important paradigm in the recent decades. It defines family support as both a style of work and a set of activities; which reinforce positive, informal social networks through an integrated program; combining statutory, voluntary, community and private services that primarily focus on early intervention across a range of levels with the aim of promoting and protecting the health, wellbeing and rights of all children and young people in their own homes and communities, with particular attention paid to those who are vulnerable or at risk. The purpose of the study was to understand the reasons for family dropouts from selected four Family Strengthening Programs. A mix methodology was adopted for collecting data. A quantitative sample household survey was conducted with in-depth qualitative data collected for eliciting the survey findings. The survey focused on 1% with total enumeration of a list of 60 identified family dropouts from 1500 selected families for the FSP. Case studies, semi-structured key informant interviews and focused group discussion were covered for collecting qualitative data. Reasons for family drop out were explored by triangulating the evidences from document review, survey, and qualitative data. This study findings reveal that the family support approach made significant changes especially in the education of children. Educational program activities were well embedded in the FSP when compared to other services. 71% of drop out families felt that service delivery was helpful to their families.The following are the reasons for dropout: facilitation is not through reflective practice or in line with FSA, small group conflict and irregular attendance of parents. Statistical analysis of P value reveals that the type of family is not significant to identify nuclear or extended family system and is not the cause for parental participation.