1. Promoting Family and Community Wellness Through Value-Based Research Isaac Prilleltensky Peabody College, Vanderbilt University Isaac.Prilleltensky@Vanderbilt.edu

2. What is Wellness? Wellness is a positive state of affairs, brought about by the simultaneous and balanced satisfaction of personal, relational, and collective needs of individuals, families, and communities.

3. Webs of Wellness There cannot be wellness but in the combined presence of personal, relational, and collective well-being

4. Personal Wellness in Families and Communities Sense of control Physical health Love Optimism Competence Growth Self-esteem

5. Relational Wellness in Families and Communities Support Affection Bonding Cohesion Collaboration Respect for diversity Democratic participation

6. Collective Wellness Economic prosperity Social justice Adequate health and social services Low crime Adequate housing Clean environment Support for community structures

7. Positive Web-like Interactions Employment Safety nets Quality education Child care Adequate housing Cohesion Access to health care Good parenting Mutual Support Good mental health Easy temperament Physical health Adequate birth weight

8. Negative Web-like Interactions Poverty Violence Discrimination No child care Poor housing Lack of cohesion Crime Teen parenting Family size Stressors Poor parenting Addictions Poor mental health Temperament Poor health Birth weight

9. Web-like Interactions of Social Capital Low SC: LA, MS, GA Med SC: CA, MO, OK Hi SC: ND, SD, VT, MN

10. Web-like Interactions in Kerala Collective Well-being Relational Well-being Personal Well-being Tenancy laws Nutrition in school Distribution Of resources Land reform Infant mortality Literacy Nutrition Life expectancy Social support Sense of cohesion Personal Empowerment Social Movements Government Action Outcomes Processes

11. Values for Family and Community Wellness

12. Value-Based Research Outcomes Self determination: Ability of community members to pursue goals Avoid colonizing research Collaboration: Meaningful opportunities for community members to have input in decisions affecting their lives Voice and choice Social justice: Fair and equitable allocation of resources in the community Caring does not replace justice

13. Value-Based Research Process Self determination: Voice and choice in research The client knows best! Collaboration: Meaningful input regarding needs Nothing about us without us!! Social justice: Equal access to resources brought about by the partnership What’s in it for me?

14. Research Partnerships Step 1: Create ownership in community Step 2: Clarify vision and values Step 3: Amalgamate strengths of partners Step 4: Research and act collaboratively

15. Conclusions If you want to make a change in a group or community, engage them in ways that enhance the level of control over their lives and affords them a voice in research If you want to make a change in the health of a community, change the social environment and not just the behaviors of individuals If you want to improve society, don’t work only at the individual or group level, and don’t work only on personal and societal wellness, but on social justice as well, for without justice there is no wellness.