Fostering Family Resilience In Marginalized Communities

Resilience refers to the ability to withstand, overcome, and bounce back from challenges in everyday life. This skill can often be seen in families residing in marginalized communities since they may regularly face systemic barriers and social inequalities. By fostering family resilience in marginalized communities, families can begin to shape a future on their terms, regardless of the obstacles they face, and work toward creating a more equal and compassionate society.

To understand resilience in these communities, individuals can examine factors that often affect family resilience, strategies to enhance resilience as a quality, and the benefits of education and awareness. By understanding how to develop resilience, families may begin to make educated decisions to foster their children’s development or create a family space that promotes resilience in the household. After learning effective strategies to build resilience, marginalized communities can continue to raise awareness and empower each other, working toward a common goal of creating a more equitable society.

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The benefits of fostering family resilience 

Marginalized communities are populations of people who experience discrimination and exclusion in their daily lives due to various social and economic factors. Along with facing systemic disadvantages, these communities may have limited access to resources and opportunities, including education, healthcare, and criminal justice, among other areas. 

Research shows that for socially disadvantaged groups, barriers to healthcare may exist, which can result in poorer health outcomes. In this study, higher levels of discrimination occurred toward women, immigrants from Africa or France, and Muslims, which shows how factors such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity can influence the way people are treated in society. A growing body of research also shows that Latinx and African American individuals experience more police discrimination than their white counterparts. By fostering resilience, African Americans and Latinx families may learn to cope with these challenging times while continuing to advocate for a more equitable society.

Factors affecting family resilience

Several factors can influence family resilience for individuals of all backgrounds. Acknowledging these factors can help families start to value resilience in their homes. Primary themes of resilience include having social support networks, resources for children, access and connection to nature, access to community resources, and a supportive environment for children’s development. 

Social networks

Social capital refers to an individual's relationships in a particular society, whether at school, work, or in the community. Individuals can offer and obtain favors, resources, information, or further connections through these relationships. For example, a university student may leverage personal connections to get a job after college. 

Building social capital can be helpful for marginalized communities because of the relationship between social capital and resilience. To have equal access to opportunities, marginalized community members may build networks of support where they can help each other personally and professionally. Social support systems can also provide communities and families compassionate care and guidance during challenging times.

Resources for children’s development 

Evidence shows that certain individual, social, and school factors are linked with resilience among youth. Communities can build a more resilient future generation by creating a conducive environment for child development. This process may involve ensuring access to quality education, providing positive role models, creating opportunities for skill building and growth, and giving children sufficient time to socialize and explore with friends. Caring for these areas of the community may support children displaying behavioral problems.

Access and connection to nature

Spending time in nature can foster resilience by buffering the effects of stressful life events. Marginalized communities, especially those in urban areas, may have less access to green space, so joining local initiatives and rallying for green spaces in your area may be beneficial. You can foster resilience with your family by spending time outdoors together. Consider planning trips away when possible, whether you plan to go camping, hiking, or to leisure activities in the local park. 

Access to community resources

Access to community resources like healthcare facilities, social work services, and educational programs may help communities flourish. Studies in marginalized communities show that raising awareness for mental illness, treatment options, and destigmatizing healthcare services are aspects of facilitating mental healthcare access in marginalized communities. 

People experiencing mental health symptoms in marginalized communities can benefit from knowing where to seek support and treatment. By familiarizing yourself with local facilities and educating your family on mental health conditions, you can prepare them in case symptoms arise.

Implementing resilience in daily life

Understanding factors affecting family resilience may help families make long-lasting changes in their home environment. Several strategies can be used to implement resilience in daily life, from improving the family's access to nature to fostering relationships and social support systems or raising awareness in one’s community. Below are a few suggestions to get started: 

• Access community events: Attend community events in your area to broaden your circle of friends, whether they're charity runs, school fairs, or farmers markets. Attending family-friendly events may allow your children to play with friends while you build long-lasting connections.
• Encourage your children: Encourage children to participate in activities and hobbies they enjoy at home and in school. Encouragement can allow them to enhance their skills and get involved in activities with friends, which benefits their mental and physical health.
• Involve nature in your life: Incorporate nature-based activities into your life, whether you take weekend walks in the park, play baseball games in the garden, or go on camping trips.
• Raise awareness: Raise awareness about available healthcare services in your area, ensuring other families know how to access compassionate, quality care. 
• Organize events: Organize cultural celebrations and community events in your area, such as charity fundraisers, neighborhood parties, or fun runs. These events may raise funding and awareness while enhancing your social circle.

Alternative resources to build resilience

If families are looking for alternative ways to build resilience within their family environment, they may consider utilizing the support of a licensed therapist or counselor. Therapists and counselors can help individuals build resilience in their lives by using various methods. 

Individuals who face access barriers to in-person support may also engage in sessions from the comfort of their own homes via online platforms like BetterHelp, which may be beneficial for marginalized communities, where modes of transportation or geographical barriers may get in the way of attending therapy sessions. The flexibility and accessibility of online therapy can allow individuals from all walks of life to access quality, compassionate healthcare at a moment's notice. In addition, telehealth is often affordable. 

If you want to utilize online therapy to develop resilience, studies show that web-based interventions can significantly increase resilience. Since therapy sessions occur online, you can also maintain appointments during challenging times, engaging in sessions at a time and place that suits you.