Children's Resiliency Program - India

Many of the risk factors related to childhood and adolescent mental health are directly or indirectly related to low socioeconomic status (SES).  Poverty may force children to drop out of school before completing their education to engage in child labor, which constrains their occupational options and increases their vulnerability to exploitation, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty across generations.  Children exposed to labor exploitation and familial stressors who have low levels of education in turn may be more likely to make poor choices with regard to criminal activities and substance abuse.  

The prevalence of child and adolescent psychopathology in developing countries and their substantial long-term cost to the individual and to society make the prevention of psychopathology a high priority.  Children  who experience symptoms of depression and anxiety are more likely to develop chronic and debilitating mental health problems as adults, which in turn are associated with a plethora of individual, interpersonal, and socioeconomic problems, such as greater rates of criminal activity, drug abuse, domestic violence, child-rearing difficulties, low life satisfaction, depression, lower earnings, and decrease in job stability.

Despite the serious long-term costs of childhood psychopathology, prevention efforts have typically lagged behind treatment, even in developed countries. Most studies on the efficacy of preventive programs have been conducted in the United States and there is a dearth of studies involving more diverse populations across the spectrum of childhood pathology and resilience.

Given the prevalence and public health burden of childhood pathology worldwide, CorStone believes it is imperative to extend current research on risk and resilience to childhood psychopathology by including at-risk populations that exhibit a wider spectrum of functioning.

In October 2009 CorStone launched its Children’s Resiliency Program (CRP) in India. The program commenced with a 5-day intensive training in October 2009 in New Delhi, for approximately 50 teachers and school administrators attending from 10 schools, all serving severely low income children ages 10-18 years. Attendees travelled from schools from as far north as Kashmir to attend the training.

The teachers/administrators all received training in (a) Positive Psychology theory and practice, (b) Attitudinal Healing peer support facilitation, and (c) Restorative Practices (conflict resolution / community building). With the initial training completed, the teachers established weekly peer support groups at their respective schools, using a 6 month curriculum for the children developed by CorStone based on the above models.

For example, The Hope Project, a well-respected nonprofit based in New Delhi, operates a school, medical clinic, job training program, and other services in a 400 year old Muslim village -- many of its residents in poor health and living in poverty, with cultural norms that have traditionally frowned upon secular education, particularly for girls. Six teachers from The Hope Project attended the October CRP training. Beginning in November 2009 these teachers have facilitated weekly one-hour support groups for 100 students (10-12 students per group), primarily girls at the Hope Project school. The program will complete in June 2010. 

Each weekly session consists of 20 minutes of Positive Psychology curriculum followed by open sharing using Restorative Practice approaches. Baseline measures have been taken, followed by periodic assessments throughout the duration of the project. CorStone also conducted follow-up mentorship sessions throughout the school year to aid the teachers to continue to improve their own skills and knowledge as they lead the weekly student support groups. Follow-up in-person training for the teachers was completed in March 2010.

CorStone has partnered with Sangath, a local mental, behavioral and developmental health organization, to undertake a formal evaluation of the program. Sangath was the winner of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation 2008 International Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

Program Outcomes
Anticipated outcomes include enhanced emotional resilience among students at participating schools, as measured by positive changes in levels of optimism, internal locus of control, and social connections and decreases in the number and severity of disruptive incidents.

Program Support
The CRP applies a low cost / high impact integrative approach that can lead to sustainable, measurable change, and thus may be of particular significance for vulnerable children in low income settings. Our goal is to develop sound, evidence-based resiliency models using alternative delivery systems (i.e., school-based programs) that are replicable and transferable across cultures and communities.

Initial funding for this program has been generously provided by Abbott Labs. CorStone seeks additional funding partners to support (a) full program implementation and (b) a formal multi-site program evaluation using a randomized control design across several schools. For more information on the Children's Resilience Program in India, please contact Steve Leventhal, Executive Director, at stevel@corstone.org.