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Project Support Program Makes Its Way to Sweden

Dedman College News
Originally Posted: April 23, 2019
Contact: Renee McDonald, rmcdonald@smu.edu

SMU psychologists champion critical family intervention program

Project Support, an intervention program designed to help improve the parent-child relationship and mental health outcomes for children in families in which intimate partner violence has occurred, is being implemented through social services agencies across Sweden. After a multi-year study, the National Swedish Health Technology Assessment in 2018 designated Project Support, originally developed by SMU Department of Psychology professors Renee McDonald and Ernest Jouriles, as one of two programs with a sufficient evidence base for helping children in domestically violent families (press release: https://www.sbu.se/280).

“Project Support has been demonstrated to ameliorate child adjustment problems and improve family functioning,” says Dr. McDonald. “The program has been evaluated in the U.S. with support from the National Institute of Mental Health and we are delighted that it is now being adopted and utilized in Sweden.”

Researchers funded by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, working with Drs. McDonald and Jouriles adapted and evaluated the feasibility of providing Project Support to families receiving assistance from the Swedish child welfare agencies.

In early April, SMU hosted six of the original cohort of service providers in Uppsala, Sweden, who were trained to provide Project Support, so that they can share their experiences with Project Support and learn more about programs and services in the U.S. for families in which violence occurs. They visited SMU’s Family Research Center, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, The Family Place, and Momentous Institute.

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