Abstract
Community public health nurses (PHN) in Wales working with families with preschool children were not using an evidence based assessment. A group concept mapping (GCM) (Kane and Rosas 2017) exercise with PHN generating statements responding to a prompt question identified Family Resilience (FR) as being key. These statements were developed into a Family Resilience Assessment Instrument and Tool (FRAIT) (Wallace et al 2018). The FRAIT comprises 32 statements addressing 5 concepts: engagement, family health, family support, social economic, responsive parenting and completion provides a FR score; lower scores = lower FR. Data analysis demonstrates lower scores link to higher incidences of child safeguarding and poor school readiness, about 30% of families with children 0-5 years are not resilient and need further support (Brophy et al 2023). This information shapes the support offered to families by PHN and addresses the sustainable development goals of good health and wellbeing and reduced inequalities (UN 2015). FRAIT is now available as an electronic Assessment tool. Validity testing of the eFRAIT demonstrated no or minor differences in FR scores (Thomas et al 2024) providing confidence in the electronic offer of the assessment tool. The eFRAIT enables analysis ofFR scores at family/community/ district and county level. Therefore contributing to maps of levels of Family Resilience that can inform policy development, provision of community assets to support and build resilient families and address public health inequalities and sustainable development goals (UN 2015). International work has resulted in GCM exercises being completed in Rishikesh/ Kerala and Vellore, India and Los Banos, Philippines, with similar issues raised as public health concerns by community health workers working with families with children under 5. This international work is contributing to expanding knowledge of Family Resilience and the links to public health internationally.
Key messages
• Understanding Family Resilience supports public health provision to improve population health and meet the sustainable development goals. FRAIT data analysis supports service planning to increase FR.
• Adopting a public health approach to promoting behaviours to increase connectedness and Family Resilience can improve public health.