College of Education and Human Development

Counseling Program Faculty’s Community Based Participatory Action Research Provides Foundation of Parent Support Group Established to Help Immigrant Families

Rachael Goodman, associate professor and academic program co-coordinator of the Counseling Program within the School of Education at George Mason University, is leading a parent support group to help immigrant mothers residing in the Northern Virginia community of Arlandria to address the ongoing impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the education and well-being of their children. This group is the result of the work of an interdisciplinary research team, led by Goodman, that received funding under a College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) seed grant provided during the 2022-2023 academic year in support of a proposal titled Community-Driven Support for Central American Immigrant Mothers during COVID-19 through the Lens of Intersectional Trauma and Resilience. Other George Mason faculty collaborating with Goodman on this initiative were Colleen Vesely, associate professor and academic program coordinator (graduate) in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program; Victoria Stone, associate professor in the Counseling Program; and Bethany Letiecq, professor of Research Methodology.

The parent support group was established in the fall of 2022 in partnership with members of the Arlandria community advisory board, Amigas de la Communidad. The advisory board included mothers who were immigrants from Central America and whose children were enrolled in Alexandria City Public Schools. These mothers became involved with this initiative, motivated by their commitment to provide their children with a better quality of life and their desire to enhance their own ability to cope with the significant challenges they face daily. Goodman stated, “This group focused on how we could center the strengths and cultural values of families, facilitate pathways for parents to help one another, and provide them with tools to promote parent and child well-being.”

One of the driving forces that gave rise to the support group was COVID-19 and the concerns that the mothers had over how the disruption to education and learning loss caused by the pandemic would affect their children. Seeking resources that would help them navigate these issues brought on by the pandemic, the mothers on the Arlandria community advisory board partnered with Goodman and her colleagues to see how they could best approach these challenges. Goodman explained, “The advisory board worked with our George Mason research team to analyze data that we had collected during the pandemic to understand what the concerns were for parents in the community. We held a series of meetings over nine months where we discussed the data and current concerns for the community along with extant literature and information about the pandemic’s impact on similar communities. We then worked on ways to provide support and address these concerns, with a particular focus on building strengths and sources of familial and cultural pride. We operated from the idea that parents can support other parents, and that if parents are helping themselves and each other, they will be better able to help their children.”

The formation of the parent support group represents the culmination of years of research that Goodman has conducted in partnership with the Arlandria community residents in addressing the many disparities and obstacles faced by these immigrant families in their day to day lives. Goodman’s engagement with the Arlandria advisory board began in 2014 as a leader in community based participatory action research (CBPAR) along with her colleagues Letiecq and Vesely. Their research focused on the barriers faced by immigrant families in the Arlandria community in accessing adequate housing, employment, and high-quality education and care for their children.

Goodman elaborated on how the parent support group initiative and her long-time work in CBPAR aligns with her academic interests. She emphasized, “I am a counselor and someone who studies traumatic stress and resilience, particularly for communities that face systemic and intentional barriers and harms, such as this one. I am passionate about creating spaces for genuine healing and empowerment that center on cultural values and inherent strengths. It is critical to build with the communities and clients we wish to serve, instead of taking a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach.”

The parent support group was originally designed to meet over seven sessions. While each of those sessions has already occurred, community demand for what has become a vital resource and a place where parents can support one another in a safe environment has increased significantly. More parents in the community have expressed an interest in becoming involved, and so at the request of the fifteen mothers who participated in the initial seven sessions, a decision was made to continue the group with monthly meetings. The George Mason research team anticipates that as awareness of the group in the community continues to grow, participation in these meetings will likely expand.

Goodman expressed her appreciation of the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) system, which partnered with the research team to provide food, translation, and childcare services for the initial seven sessions of the parent support group and will continue to do so for future meetings. ACPS representatives also attended one of the sessions where they engaged with participants and provided information on resources available to families in Arlandria. Goodman also thanked Community Lodging for their generosity in providing meeting space free of charge and for their efforts in disseminating the news within the Arlandria community about the support group.

Several CEHD graduate students worked closely with Goodman in helping to manage the parent group—a unique opportunity which provided them with valuable experience in better understanding and supporting the needs of immigrant families and their children. Co-leading the parent support group with Goodman was CEHD doctoral student and graduate research assistant Maribel Tohara Nakamatsu who commented, “This experience is helping me to grow as a mother and researcher. Seeing this group of moms willing to spend Friday nights with us sharing experiences about their children inspires me to continue working hard.”

Sofi Portillo, who is pursuing a master’s degree in the Counseling Program at George Mason, shared her thoughts on her experience as a volunteer. “As someone who was raised by Central American women and mothers throughout my childhood, my time as a volunteer with Amigas de la Communidad means so much,” Portillo stated. “I felt like this group provided the space and time for mothers who might otherwise not have an opportunity to express themselves, explore their emotions, or seek individual counseling. It was so inspiring seeing the mothers learn coping skills, share their experiences, set boundaries, and problem-solve. I am so thankful for the thoughtfulness, integrity, and empathy behind this community we built.”

Other George Mason students who volunteered in support of this initiative include CEHD doctoral student Alejandra Salazar Salame, and Counseling Program master’s students Jennifer Aguilar, Brenda Gonzalez, and Angela Foster.

Goodman concluded her remarks by emphasizing that the parent support group offers a protected venue where mothers can learn from one another and share friendships and support that will help them become better able to manage the stresses and challenges they face every day. She stated, “This initiative provides a pathway for parents to come together and support one another and build community. It provides them with an opportunity to build on their strengths, grow as parents, and to learn new ways of supporting their children.”

Goodman continued, “These mothers persist and show such resolve, love, and commitment to their children. Creating a space that was safe enough for mothers to share their challenges with one another and to celebrate their ‘parenting wins’ led to opportunities for growth, healing, and community building. Mothers exchanged information with neighbors they had seen but did not know personally. They joined a group chat to share resources with one another. And they asked us to continue the group, which we are doing monthly and opening it up to their friends and partners, as well as other community members.”

She added that the current anti-immigrant political climate highlights why the parent support group and building community solidarity is so critical. Goodman observed that now more than ever before, members of the Arlandria immigrant community are experiencing heightened concerns and anxiety about their own future well-being, and that of their children. “Anti-immigrant polices have exacerbated existing challenges community members already face, leaving many of them feeling terrified about the safety of their children and themselves. The relationships parents built with their neighbors through the support group is resulting in greater social support and advocacy efforts to help sustain families who are being threatened,” Goodman stated.

The Arlandria community parent support group initiative developed by Rachael Goodman is an example of how faculty across programs within CEHD can effectively apply their research expertise relevant to intercultural engagement in helping families in diverse communities build the resiliency and strength needed to ensure the well-being of their children.

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