Monarch Media, Inc. is pleased to be collaborating with the Arizona State University’s REACH Institute to create a program to benefit families who have lost a parent. The Resilient Parenting in Bereaved Families Program was initiated by Irwin Sandler and Sharlene Wolchik at ASU, who have been researching evidence-based programs for bereaved families for 30 years. Their research was recently featured in Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy.
Monarch Media is collaborating with ASU to develop a blended learning program which includes an interactive website for training the program leaders, and a website and mobile app for the parents. The program is especially innovative in its use of text and online support so that the parents can complete a “home practice” of exercises to create positive interactions with their children after the death of a parent. The website also includes an online discussion room for communicating with other parents in the program, video resources and tools for interacting with the program leader.
The Resilient Parenting in Bereaved Families Program is expected to launch in 2018-2019, and is being funded by the New York Life Foundation.