Description:
The self-report Support Functions Scale (SFS)
measures the extent of parents’ needs for different
types of support. The scale is available in both an extended
(20-item) and short (12-item) version. Both versions ask parents
to rate their need for financial, emotional, instrumental,
and informational support on a five-point scale ranging from
never (1) to quite often (5).
Uses of Information: Providers can use the SFS results to
guide follow-up discussions with parents to better understand
their needs and to develop an intervention plan to address
needs. The book provides a number of case studies to illustrate
how the information can be used.
Reliability: (1) Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s
alpha): .87; split-half reliability (using the Spearman-Brown
formula): .88; (2) Test-retest reliability (1-month interval):
the average correlation among administrations for the individual
items was .91; for the total scale score, the correlation
among administrations was .62.
Validity: (1) Concurrent validity:
The authors compared the outcomes on the SFS scale to the
outcomes on scales measuring family well-being (McCubbin et
al.), personal well-being (Trivette and Dunst, 1985), and
time demand on respondent (Dunst and Trivette, 1985). The
total scores (20-item scale) proved to be the best predictor.
Both family (correlation = .27) and personal (correlation
= .33) well-being were significantly related to adequacy of
support, whereas lack of support placed more time demands
upon the respondent (correlation = -.20). Financial support
was the only factor score significantly related to family
well-being (correlation = .27), whereas emotion (correlation
= .17), child-related (correlation = .21), and instrumental
(correlation = .29) support were significantly related to
personal well-being. None of the factor scores were related
to the personal time demands measure.
Method of Scoring: The parent or caregiver answers to what
extent he or she feels a need for each type of assistance
by marking Never, Once in a While, Sometimes, Often, and Quite
Often.
Interpretability: If the respondent rates an item as Sometimes,
Often, or Quite Often (have a need), this may be taken as
an indication that further interviewing (assessment) is necessary
to determine the exact type of help that is needed but lacking.
Training Support: None. However, a second book published
by Brookline Books, entitled “Supporting & Strengthening
Families: Methods Strategies and Practices” is a collection
of papers updating the thinking and practices described in
“Enabling and Empowering Families”, and building
and elaborating upon the model described in the earlier book.
Adaptations/Special Instructions for
Individuals with Disabilities: None, this measure was
developed based on work with families with children who have
disabilities.
Report Preparation Support: The book provides a Family Support
Plan form and a Profile of Family Needs and Support form for
the agency to use. The needs and support form can be used
to identify providers and record the resources they are expected
to provide to help the family address an identified need.
The family support form helps the agency to mobilize resources
to address needs and to monitor the progress of the intervention. References:
Dunst, Carl and Carol Trivette. Personal Time Commitment
Scale: Reliability and Validity. Unpublished scale. Morganton,
NC: Family, Infant and Preschool Program, 1985.
Dunst, Carl, Carol Trivette, and Angela Deal. Enabling and
Empowering Families: Principles & Guidelines for Practice.
Cambridge: Brookline Books, 1988.
Dunst, Carl, Carol Trivette, and Angela Deal. Supporting
and Strengthening Families: Methods, Strategies, and Practices.
Newton: Brookline Books, 1994.
McCubbin, H.I., J.K. Comeau, and J.A. Harkins. “Family
Inventory of Resources for Management.” In H.I. McCubbin
and J.M. Patterson (eds.), Systematic Assessment of Family
Stress, Resources, and Coping. St. Paul, MN: Family Stress
and Coping Project, 1981, pp. 67-69.
Trivette, Carol and Carl Dunst. Personal Well-Being Index:
Reliability and Validity. Unpublished scale. Morganton, NC:
Family, Infant and Preschool Program at Western Carolina Center,
1985.
|
