Family-centered approach in the social support of families raising children with disabilities (a case study of Karaganda city)

Abstract

The family-centered approach is an effective model for providing social support to families raising children with disabilities. Its application contributes to enhancing parental competence, promoting active family involvement in the child’s developmental process, and improving quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of applying a family-centered approach to the social support of families in the city of Karaganda. The scientific significance of the study lies in providing empirical evidence on the application of this model within social work practice in Kazakhstan. The study involved 20 families divided into an experimental group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10). The effectiveness of the program was assessed through parent questionnaires administered before and after the intervention. The questionnaire consisted of 20 statements rated on a five-point Likert scale. Comparative analysis and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. The results showed that following the implementation of the program, parents in the experimental group became more actively involved in their child’s developmental process, the regular use of developmentally supportive daily routines increased, and children’s communication, social, and self-care skills improved. The value of the study lies in the pilot testing of the family-centered approach within the context of social work practice in Kazakhstan. The findings support the effectiveness of the family-centered approach and provide a rationale for its implementation in social support services for families.

Keywords: family-centered approach, social support, children with disabilities, interagency collaboration, individualized support plan.