4Rs and 2Ss

4Rs and 2Ss is a therapeutic intervention for families living in disadvantaged communities with 7- to 11-year-old child diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder or a conduct disorder.

4Rs and 2Ss is delivered by two practitioners and a family peer advocate to groups of six to eight families through 16 one-hour sessions. Parents and children attend the sessions together.

The intervention emphasises 4 Rs and 2 Ss. The 4 Rs are:

• Rules. Rules organise the family. They also organise a child’s life in other areas like school, in the community, etc. Parents establish the rules and set up systems for knowing when they are and are not being followed. Rules should have a consequence if broken and a reward if followed. Consequences and rewards must be applied consistently and in a timely manner.
• Responsibilities. Children and parents have differing responsibilities within the family system. This means that each member contributes to family success and also takes responsibility for problems when they occur.
• Relationships. Relationships represent how family members care about each other. Children are more likely to thrive when family relationships are positive.
• Respectful Communication. Good communication provides the foundation for positive family relationships. Communication is essential for parents to understand what their children are doing and feeling and help children feel supported by their parents.

The two Ss are:

• Stress. Stress is something that happens to all family members. Stress can come from sources within or outside of the family system. A child’s behaviour can look exaggerated when seen by a parent who is under a lot of stress, and a parent’s stress can negatively impact the child.
• Support. When family members experience stress, additional support is sometimes required to help them cope. Both parents and children need positive, responsible sources of support. Sources of support may include family members, friends, church, school, mental health professionals, and other community resources.

Each session is organised around the following activities:

• A family social – during which participants check-in with the facilitators and each other while having refreshments or engaging in more structured activities.
• Review roadwork – refers to assignments given to the families between sessions. Each week, participants discuss their roadwork and problem-solve with each other.
• Let’s talk & let’s share – facilitators introduce a new topic for families to discuss and share ideas and experiences.
• Let’s practise – encourages families to practise ideas and receive feedback from the group and facilitators.
• This week’s roadwork – introduces a task or assignment for family members to try during the following week.