Program
Doctor of Ministry
Number of Pages
197
Year Approved
2025
First Advisor
Parolini, Jeanine
Second Reader
Katie Friesen Smilth; Kate Scorgie
Abstract
This study sought to understand the effectiveness of restorative leadership development and coaching in parent or caregiver differentiation of self in chronically conflicted family systems experiencing chronic absenteeism or truancy. This mixed method study employed a program evaluation approach that examines parent pre- and post-survey results after engaging with The Parent Line over nine weeks. A third-party statistician collected and analyzed the data to provide research transparency. The research includes a review of the biblical book of Genesis 37-50 examining Joseph's attributes towards differentiation of self in a chronically anxious family system and a literature review that examined the parental differentiation of self in Bowen's Family Systems Theory. The information gleaned from these three data points provides the information required to understand the program's effectiveness. The information extracted resulted in three primary guidelines for truancy prevention providers, which include: Parents who define themselves can (1) operate as leaders influencing their household, (2) leverage neutrality and calm connectedness at home, and (3) successfully manage and plan for negative family feedback to influence change directly with their teen.
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry
Document Type
Doctoral thesis
Recommended Citation
Welter, L. J. (2025). Understanding the Effect of Restorative Leadership Development in Parent or Caregiver Differentiation of Self in Chronically Conflicted Family Systems Experiencing Chronic Absenteeism/Truancy [Doctoral thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/1158
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