Family Spirit^®

The Family Spirit conceptual framework is based on G.R. Patterson’s model, which suggests that parenting is the critical link between parents’ personal characteristics and environment, and children’s individual risks and outcomes. The Family Spirit intervention seeks to improve mothers’ parenting skills while helping them develop coping and problem-solving skills to overcome individual and environmental stressors.

The model also incorporates traditional tribal teachings throughout the curriculum. The model developers believe that cultural teachings are protective factors that can improve maternal and child health in Native American communities.

Paraprofessional home visitors meet with families in their homes. The home visitors try to establish a close rapport with families to enable delivery of the curriculum, which consists of 63 lessons within the following six domains: (1) prenatal care; (2) infant care; (3) child development; (4) toddler care; (5) life skills, such as planning, nutrition, physical exercise, budgeting, health, and communication; and (6) healthy living, including goal-setting, substance abuse prevention, family planning, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. The home visitors also refer families to community resources to address specific needs.

The curriculum package includes an implementation guide, home visitor lesson plans, a reference manual on lesson topics, and a sample participant workbook with handouts and worksheets.

Family Spirit serves pregnant women and families with children from birth to age 36 months. The developer strongly recommends enrolling mothers while they are pregnant. Family Spirit was designed to be implemented with Native American families. However, it is now also used in non-Native populations with high maternal and child behavioral health disparities.

Family Spirit National Office
Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health

Email:
 familyspirit@jhu.edu
Website:
 https://www.jhsph.edu/research/affiliated-programs/family-spirit/