Community members as design partners: Codesign workshops of the families tackling tough times together program

• Published date: 01 December 2024
• Author: Claire A. Rosenberger,Cezanne Elias,Yumary Ruiz,Austin Toombs,Sohee Lee,Kristine Marceau,Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth,Carly Kimiecik,Lillian Millspaugh,Chloe Cloutier,Lauren Rutherford,Liying Che,Carolyn E.B. McCormick
• Date: 01 December 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.13072

RESEARCH

Community members as design partners: Codesign

workshops of the families tackling tough times

together program

Claire A. Rosenberger

1

| Cezanne Elias

1

| Yumary Ruiz

2

|

Austin Toombs

3

| Sohee Lee

1

| Kristine Marceau

1

|

Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth

1

| Carly Kimiecik

1

|

Lillian Millspaugh

1

| Chloe Cloutier

1

| Lauren Rutherford

1

|

Liying Che

1

| Carolyn E.B. McCormick

1

1

Human Development and Family Science,

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

2

Department of Public Health, Purdue

University, West Lafayette, IN

3

Department of Computer Graphics

Technology, Purdue University, West

Lafayette, IN

Correspondence

Kristine Marceau, 1202 Mitchel Daniels

Boulevard, Purdue University, West Lafayette,

IN 47907, USA.

Email: kristinemarceau@purdue.edu

Present address

Austin Toombs, Department of Informatics,

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.

Funding information

College of Agriculture, Purdue University,

AgSEED, Elias (PI)

Abstract

Objective: This community-engaged codesign project iden-

tified the changes needed to tailor a family resilience-

building program, the Families Tackling Tough Times

Together (FT), into a community setting.

Background: There is a need for low-burden resources to

help families mitigate stressful times and build resilience.

Guided by Walsh’s family resilience framework, FT aims

to improve families’ability to cope, recover, and build

resilience. Due to the success of FT during the COVID-19

pandemic, the program is now being modified to help fam-

ilies in the state of Indiana.

Method: Three codesign workshops were held with com-

munity service providers (CSP) and families. Participants

engaged with the FT materials and discussions related to

program usability and feasibility. Data were analyzed

using a rapid analysis approach.

Results: CSPs stated that FT program materials fit with

their goals and workload. Families felt the FT program

aligned with their personal needs and day-to-day

lives. Challenges and concerns with the FT materials

included activities that required additional resources or

that may be intimidating for families to complete. Both

CSPs and families provided helpful suggestions on how to

modify the materials.

Received: 11 July 2023 Revised: 22 April 2024 Accepted: 13 June 2024

DOI: 10.1111/fare.13072

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits

use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or

adaptations are made.

© 2024 The Author(s). Family Relations published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2024;73:3419–3439. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 3419

Conclusion: The FT program was well received by partici-

pants and was viewed as a valuable addition to the services

CSPs offer. Modifications will be made to the FT mate-

rials based on knowledge gained from the workshops.

Implications: This work highlights the collaborative nature

of the codesign process as well as the insights gained from

participants regarding the use of the FT materials by CSPs

as part of their routine service delivery with families in the

community.

As families navigate tough times, resilience and strong connections between parents and chil-

dren are essential. Families may be facing difficult times for a variety of reasons, such as eco-

nomic hardships, parental incarceration, involvement with the criminal justice system, or a lack

of resources, and are at an increased likelihood for multiple risk factors that can significantly

impact their well-being (Tahan et al., 2015). These risk factors include poor mental health out-

comes, inadequate access to health care, higher rates of substance abuse, and child maltreat-

ment (Jonson-Reid et al., 2013; Tahan et al., 2015). The consequences of these risk factors can

have long-lasting effects, making it difficult for families to overcome their circumstances and

achieve positive outcomes (Mistry et al., 2002; Neppl et al., 2016). Although many families can

recover from these challenges on their own, certain factors increase vulnerability and prolong

their effects (Ronan et al., 2008). These factors include the degree of exposure to a traumatic

event (e.g., length of time, life threat, injury, loss), background characteristics (age, education

level, socioeconomic status, cultural and religious backgrounds), coping style (avoidant,

attached, blaming), and lack of social support (Huzziff & Ronan, 1999; Ronan, 1997). Even

though it can be difficult for families to see positive outcomes during tough times, building fam-

ily resilience is a good way to support families and promote favorable outcomes.

Resilience is important for families who are facing hard times because it builds on their

strengths, rather than focusing on what they lack. This approach emphasizes the need to focus

on what families have, rather than the challenges they are facing, so that families can develop

the skills and strategies needed to overcome obstacles and thrive, even in the face of adversity

(Saltzman, 2016). The capacity to withstand and rebound from disruptive life challenges is an

important concept in family science (Walsh, 2016a). When families are put in challenging situa-

tions, recovery factors are called on to promote the ability to adapt and rebound from the crisis

(Black & Lobo, 2008). Resilience can allow families to recover from adverse experiences as well

as promote growth (Walsh, 2016a). Because families’responses to crises are diverse, researchers

have examined differences across groups and found that the families with the most success dur-

ing challenging times display practices associated with resilience (Black & Lobo, 2008;

McCubbin, & McCubbin, 1988). The skills needed to build resilience can be developed at any

time of the family life cycle and are often enhanced and refined through problem-solving

(Black & Lobo, 2008; McCubbin, & McCubbin, 1988). Although it is possible to develop the

skills needed to foster resilience, programs aimed at building these frequently fall short in tailor-

ing their content to suit the distinctive experiences and situations of families experiencing

hardships.

Including families in the design or modification of resilience-promoting programs is crucial

because their involvement not only ensures a more personalized approach to modifying the pro-

gram materials, but also acknowledges the unique dynamics, challenges, and strengths within

each family unit. This approach significantly enhances the effectiveness and relevance of a pro-

gram that is provided to families during tough times. For instance, the Families Tackling

Tough Times Together (FT) program is an evidence-informed, strength-based program

designed during the COVID-19 pandemic to build, strengthen, and support family resilience

3420 FAMILY RELATIONS