News archive

Published 17 April 2009

The event on 21 May is now fully booked, but will be repeated at Falmer on 2 June, see end of page for details.

Some kids are born with an easy temperament, a brain the size of a planet, or are blessed with the kind of charm and good looks that will get them by in life, even if they are growing up with major challenges.

So why do some children thrive whatever their circumstances, while others languish and worse still, turn to criminal behaviour? And what can practitioners, parents and young people themselves do to fight the odds?

These are subjects that have intrigued Angie Hart, Professor of Child, Family and Community Health at the University of Brighton, adoptive parent of three children from care and until recently, a child and family therapist, managing a caseload of 26 children with complex mental and health difficulties. She will attempt to answer these at her inaugural lecture on 21 May.

Angie has a long history of studying inequalities in health, and her current main research area is child and family resilience – combining academic knowledge with professional practice experience, her own parenting experience and user involvement. Between 2004–2007 she co-innovated Resilient Therapy™.

This is a therapeutic method designed to help children, young people and their families find ways to 'bounce back' when living amidst persistent disadvantage. It helps for children to understand boundaries, but also lean on others when required. Resilient Therapy™ emphasises the need for a child to have exposure to as many healthy relationships as possible, to develop hobbies and interests and to be instilled with a sense of hope. It also emphasises the pivotal role of parents and practitioners in relentlessly looking for ways to help children bounce back.

Angie says: "Research shows there are thousands of different ways to help children respond in a resilient way to life's challenges. This involves setting up a series of positive chain reactions – where one good thing (however small it might seem) leads to another. Key routes include developing a positive relationship with at least one considerate adult, developing a child's interest in one healthy thing that could lead to other good things – for example cycling or cooking, prioritising positive school involvement and feelings of community belonging, and making sure a child has access to basics in life such as good food, a decent roof over their heads and play opportunities. None of this is exactly rocket science, but it can be very hard work."

At the same time Angie recognises the important role of social workers and other practitioners: "Too often practitioners come and go very quickly in the lives of disadvantaged children, and parents lose patience through having to explain their situation to new people, and through being constantly reassessed, with few actual services provided. It's interesting to see that the group of MPs recently charged to consider the needs of children in care following the Baby P case, think that social workers should have greater freedom to actually build relationships with kids."

"Practitioners need to have an understanding of the resilience evidence base and a realistic approach to putting it into practice. Really understanding what it's like to grow up and to parent, in very tough circumstances, and planning interventions is the key to effective practice in this area. Working with parents and children who have it tough, is tricky and exhausting work – practitioners themselves need to be supported in this crucial work."

What makes us resilient?
Thursday 21 May 2009 at 6.30pm
Sallis Benney Theatre
University of Brighton
Grand Parade
Brighton BN2 0JY

Light refreshments will be served after the lecture.

All welcome.

New date announced
The event on 21 May is now fully booked, but will be repeated on Tuesday 2 June 2009 at 6.30pm in Westlain House at Falmer. Light refreshments will be served after the lecture. This event will not be ticketed but if you would like to attend then please email events@brighton.ac.uk for your name to be added to our guest list.