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Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0005-2268-4102
Date Available
8-26-2027
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
College
Social Work
Department/School/Program
Social Work
Faculty
Dr. Kimberly Chinn
Abstract
Family engagement is a vital component of children’s clinical therapy, but often poses as a persistent barrier to sustaining engagement. Disengagement presents as inconsistent attendance, premature termination, and diminished treatment outcomes for both the parent and child. This capstone examines how social workers can strengthen caregiver or familial engagement by integrating empirical knowledge, advancing engagement as a relational and ecological concept, and translating these insights into a practical framework. The capstone project is presented in three products.
Paper 1, the systematic literature review, examines whether salutogenic concepts, such as sense of coherence (SOC), were associated with diminished family engagement among families whose children receive therapy. Using PRISMA-guided procedures, it was found that SOC was inconsistently operationalized as an engagement construct despite its benefits. SOC was associated with lower caregiver stress, stronger family well-being, and improved child outcomes.
Paper 2, the conceptual paper, draws on the findings of the SLR to propose the conceptualized framework, Connected Systems of Care (CSC), drawing on salutogenesis, ecological systems theory, and Adlerian family systems concepts to explain how engagement is sustained over time in children’s clinical therapy. The model emphasizes caregiver well-being and meaning-making, effective communication, systemic support, and conditions that support flexibility, targeted to prevent dropout and sustain participation.
Paper 3, the practice application paper, operationalizes these findings through the proposed CSC framework. The CSC is organized into five phases: engagement-focused intake and assessment, relationship mapping and sense-making, capacity development, parenting practice integration, and ongoing engagement monitoring and adjustment. The CSC specifies actionable strategies for treatment at each stage. The integrated implications for social work include (a) strengthening theory by linking engagement to salutogenic mechanisms; (b) enhancing practice through routine engagement assessment, caregiver-centered intervention, and flexible service delivery options; (c) informing policy reforming standards of family engagement; and (d) advancing education by emphasizing competencies in family systems practice such as shifting from compliance to engagement and moving beyond single theory curricula. Future research should evaluate CSC-informed engagement approaches and their effects on caregiver functioning and children’s outcomes in clinical social work.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Awtum P., "A Family Affair: From Literature to Practice—Integrating Salutogenesis to Improve Family Engagement in Children’s Clinical Therapy" (2026). DSW Capstone Projects. 87.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/csw_grad_reports/87
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Social Work Commons
