Academic Professional: Enhancing Practitioner Skills with Insights on Social Support for Families with CSHCN Post-Pandemic

As an academic professional working with TinyEYE, an online therapy service for schools, I often witness the profound impact that effective social support networks can have on families, especially those with children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN). The recent research titled "Perceived social support and characteristics of social networks of families with children with special healthcare needs following the COVID-19 pandemic" offers valuable insights that can help practitioners enhance their skills and support these families better.

According to the study, perceived social support significantly affects the well-being of caregivers and children with special healthcare needs. The research highlights that lower perceived social support is associated with higher disease complexity of the child, lower caregiver mental wellbeing, lower socioeconomic status (SES), and increasing caregiver age.

Here are some key takeaways from the research that practitioners can implement to improve their support strategies:

• Understand the Importance of Social Support: Recognize that social support is a crucial resource for the health and well-being of families with CSHCN. This support can come from both formal services and informal networks like family, friends, and neighbors.
• Assess Social Support Networks: Use tools like the Brief Social Support Scale (BS6) to assess the perceived social support of caregivers. This can help identify areas where support is lacking and where interventions are needed.
• Focus on Informal Networks: The study found that most social support comes from informal networks. Encourage families to strengthen these networks by fostering connections with extended family, friends, and community members.
• Address Socioeconomic Barriers: Families with lower SES often perceive less social support. Work on removing barriers to accessing support systems by connecting families with community resources and advocating for policies that support financial stability.
• Promote Caregiver Well-being: Caregiver mental health is closely linked to perceived social support. Provide mental health resources and support groups for caregivers to help them manage stress and improve their well-being.
• Tailor Support to Disease Complexity: Recognize that families of children with more complex health needs may require more intensive support. Tailor interventions to meet the specific needs of these families.

Implementing these strategies can help practitioners provide more comprehensive and effective support to families with CSHCN, ultimately improving their overall well-being. Additionally, practitioners are encouraged to conduct further research in this area to continue enhancing support systems and strategies.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Perceived social support and characteristics of social networks of families with children with special healthcare needs following the COVID-19 pandemic.