SFP 97 – Episode 97: Solution Focus in Schools Works: From Garza Highschool to the Worldwide Evidence with Prof. Cynthia Franklin
Simply Focus Podcast – Episode #97Hosted by: Elfie Czerny & Dominik Godat | Intro: Bibiana Czerny & Ken Brooks | Music: www.bensound.com
SFP 97 – Solution Focus in Schools Works: From Garza Highschool to the Worldwide Evidence with Cynthia Franklin
“What we do there (at Garza Highschool) is, we teach the teachers, the principals and everyone (…) that works there how to have a solution-focused conversation with youth.”
“It’s a school that can really take youth when they are not doing well in school – when they are failing, when they dropped out, when they have difficulties – and then turn them around, so they become very enthusiastic about their education.”
“Creating a social support around youth – an educational support, an emotional support – is so helpful to youth.”
Show Notes
In today’s episode, we talk with Prof. Cynthia Franklin, Associate Dean for Doctoral Education and Stiernberg/Spencer Family Professor in Mental Health at Steve Hicks School of Social Work, at the University of Texas at Austin, about
- what fascinates her with Solution Focus,
- when she first got in touch with Solution Focus in the early 90ies,
- how she brought SF into alternative schools and helped build the solution-focused Garza Highschool,
- what is different at Garza Highschool and the stories in the book „Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Alternative Schools“,
- an example of an exception question of a teacher and her student,
- her research and the strong evidence-base of Solution Focus Brief Therapy and Solution Focused in schools across countries,
- the value of her research studies for practitioners,
- the WOWW-Program and her research on the positive effects WOWW can make in schools,
- a wonderful example of complimenting students at Garza Highschool,
- the infectious generosity of Insoo Kim Berg that inspired her,
- their online crisis intervention training that they did for people in Wuhan, China,
- The Challenge of the Week: Ask people: “When I get to know you better, what will be something I really come to admire about you?”
Resources
- Check out Cynthia’s work at the Steve Hicks School fo Social Work – University of Texas and Cynthia’s publications on research gate as well as other books on schools and solution-focused brief therapy by Cynthia here.
- Cynthia is also Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Social Work as well as past President of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work.
- Learn more about Garza Highschool here.
- Here are some of the books and publications we talked about in the podcast:
- Franklin, C., Streeter, C.L., Webb, L., Y Guz, S. (2018). Solution focused brief therapy in alternative schools: Ensuring student success and preventing dropout. New York: Routledge.
- Kim., J.S., Kelly. M.S. & Franklin, C. (2017). Solution focused brief therapy in schools: A 360-degree view of research and practice principles. New York: Oxford University Press
- Wallace, L. B., Hai, A. H. & Franklin, C..(2020). An evaluation of Working on What Works (WOWW): A solution focused intervention for schools. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
- Franklin, C. Zhang, A. Kim. J. and others. (revise and resubmit). A systematic review and meta-analysis of solution focused brief therapy in schools: An international and cross country comparison. This is forthcoming. Contact author for up-dates: Cfranklin@austin.utexas.edu This study will be released to the general public once published. It shows promising evidence that SFBT works in schools and is effective with adolescents with internalizing disorders and social problems. SFBT in schools works better in groups than individual sessions. In comparison, it is a very effective approach with Chinese students.
- Kim, J.S., Smock-Jordan, S., Franklin, C., & Froerer, A. (2019). Is solution-focused brief therapy evidence-based? An update 10 years later. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 1-12.
- Check out the Free Solution Focused Brief Therapy Crisis Intervention Training by Cynthia Franklin & Jack Nowicki (2020) sponsored by the Department of Health Social Work at the Dell Medical School and the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin.
- In Europe there are also some very exciting networks emerging regarding SF in Schools:
- At the SF World Day 2020 (May 3rd) Tara Gretton and Katrin Berger started a network for schoolworkers of the European region. There will be online meetings on zoom to encourage the exchange amongst practitioners every 3rd of a month. You can connect on Facebook and also follow them on Eventbrite to book your free of charge tickets for the online gatherings.
- In Switzerland Katalin Hankovszky Christiansen, Anna-Julia Szabo and Alice Caduff-Scheuner initiated two online gatherings for SF school practitioners in German speaking countries featured by the nla-Netzwerk lösungsorientieres Arbeiten Schweiz And we hope that there is more to come 🙂
- In Bremen Katrin Berger, Katalin Hankovszky Christiansen and Anna-Julia Szabo started a regional network for SF practitioners in schools.
- In the United States Linda Metcalf a while ago started a podcast Solution Focused Schools Unlimited.
- Learn more about the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) and join us at the next conference in Las Vegas!
Join the conversation
Friendpower is stronger than willpower. So, let’s inspire each other! Share your ideas and thoughts on what inspired you about our conversation with Cynthia and what differences this makes for you in your everyday life. Share as much detail as possible. Your story might be the one making a vital difference for someone else. Your thoughts and ideas matter and might encourage others to keep on going their SF journey. Share this podcast episode with your friends, clients or colleagues who you think might be inspired by this conversation. It could give them some practical ideas on how to apply Solution Focus in their daily life.Thank you!
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SIMPLY FOCUS Podcast: The Good Life Approach - Your podcast with the little extra Solution Focus for your daily life!
Elfie Czerny & Dominik Godat
Welcome to our weekly podcast with the little extra Solution Focus for your daily life! The SIMPLY FOCUS Podcast is a weekly show where we share focuses that have enhanced our lives. Our podcast is a resource for people who want to train an effective focus in their life and embrace a life in joy and ease. What you focus on in your daily life matters. Choose focuses that uplift, empower, and amplify useful change. Let yourself inspire for your business and private life.
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Listen to more Simply Focus Podcast episodes:
SFP 99 – Introducing Solution Focus in Schools: The kind of teachers we want to be with Sharon Casey
SFP 55 – Practice-Based Evidence: Looking at what is effective in what we do with Prof. Frank Thomas
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Another great podcast. I have read Cynthia’s book about SF in Alternative schools and just watched the webinar that was linked here. In the true spirit of SF, she is such a prolific sharer of knowledge.