Wellness in Your Words!

To learn more about the experiences and well-being of families involved with programs that seek to increase economic security, the Measuring SUCCESS team conducted focus groups with caregiver participants in employment or welfare and self-sufficiency programs. This brief provides caregivers who contributed to the focus groups with a summary of key themes from the focus groups and how the research team incorporated their voice into the project. Its publication to OPRE’s website serves as an example of how researchers can provide meaningful feedback to focus group participants.

Several themes emerged from the caregiver focus groups that we will incorporate into the project:

• We heard from caregivers that families can take different shapes and sizes. Going forward, we will use a definition that does not limit family to only blood relatives.
• Caregivers shared that mental health plays a major role in family well-being. We will emphasize that mental health is important to the well-being of caregivers, children, and the family as a whole.
• We heard from caregivers that caregivers and children motivate each other to accomplish their educational, professional, or personal goals. Moving forward, we will add the idea that caregivers and children motivate each other as part of how well-being is defined.
• Most caregivers liked the TANF or other employment and training program we asked them about, but some parts of the program were challenging. Given this, the research team will use specific examples to show that programs can support or harm family well-being. 

The Measuring SUCCESS research team partnered with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and other employment programs to recruit participants for the focus groups. We designed focus groups that comprised caregivers with a shared pre-identified characteristic, including tribal caregivers; fathers; caregivers of children with autism, ADHD, or other disabilities; caregivers of young children; and caregivers of school age children. We asked that caregivers self-select their group of choice, except for the tribal group and the fathers group.  

We conducted nine semi-structured focus groups with a total of 44 caregivers in April and May 2023. All focus groups were held virtually on Zoom for 90 minutes (except the one with tribal caregivers, which was held in-person based on expressed preferences).  

Brown, Elizabeth, Briana Starks, Eryn Gorang, and Jessica F. Harding. “Wellness in Your Words!” OPRE Report #2024-004. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024.