The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA) program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Parent Partner Programs for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Birth parents, foster parents, and caseworkers of children ages 10-17 who are in foster care and candidates for reunification.

PESA is an adaptation of Columbia University’s Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) and the Building a Better Future Program developed by Sandra Jimenez and Naomi Weinstein as a Family-to-Family Initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. PESA helps birth parents, foster parents, and caseworkers work together to address the mental health needs of youth in foster care.

Essential components of Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA) include:

• Group facilitators must include a birth parent advocate, foster parent advocate, and caseworker.
• There is a 3-day training for group facilitators followed by 12 consultation calls.
• Adherence to manual is mandatory.
• Representation of birth parents, foster parents, and caseworkers in group is mandatory.

The manual is composed of 10 chapters covering the following topic areas:

• Chapter 1: Introduction to the PESA Manual
• Chapter 2: Understanding the Child Welfare System
• Chapter 3: Understanding and Coping with Emotions
• Chapter 4: Building Communication Skills
• Chapter 5: Getting Organized for Effective Meetings
• Chapter 6: Understanding Youth Development and Reactions to Change
• Chapter 7: Youth Mental Health Issues: Diagnosis and Treatment
• Chapter 8: The Mental Health System of Care: What to Expect and How to Prepare
• Chapter 9: Services and Options Through the School System
• Chapter 10: Making Advocacy Work

Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA) was not designed with a child component.

Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA) was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Parents or foster parents of youth in the foster care system.

Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA) was designed to be conducted in a group setting; but has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended group size:

12-15

Recommended Intensity:

One 2-3 hour session per week.

Recommended Duration:

5-6 weeks

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community Agency

This program does not include a homework component.

Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA) does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Audiovisual (LCD Projector and screen)
• Group facilitators (birth parent advocate, foster parent advocate and caseworker)
• Room large enough for 12-15 people

Group facilitators should have some prior experience running groups and comfort with public speaking.

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program, and there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD
  lisa@thereachinstitute.org
  phone: (212) 947-7322 x227

Training is obtained:

On-site.

Number of days/hours:

3 days.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA).

No reference materials are currently available for Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy (PESA).