Peer Mentoring in Child Welfare: A Motivational Framework

Area of Science:

• Child Welfare
• Psychology
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Background:

• Peer mentoring is an emerging intervention for parents with substance use disorders involved in child welfare.
• Understanding the mechanisms of these complex interventions is crucial for program efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore parents' experiences within a peer mentoring program.
• To identify key mentoring practices that motivate parents and support child welfare case plans.
• To propose a motivational framework based on Self-Determination Theory and Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving parents in a peer mentoring program.
• Thematic analysis of parents' experiences to identify key mentoring practices.

Main Results:

• Three core mentoring practices emerged: building caring relationships, providing guidance, and empowering parents ('putting parents in charge').
• These practices fostered positive self-beliefs (e.g., worthiness, competence) in parents.
• Enhanced self-beliefs motivated parents to engage in services, cope with challenges, and manage behaviors/emotions.

Conclusions:

• Peer mentoring can effectively motivate parents with substance use disorders involved in child welfare.
• A proposed motivational framework, grounded in Self-Determination Theory and BPNT, explains how mentoring impacts parent motivation and case progress.
• Findings offer implications for developing and evaluating future peer mentoring programs.