COORDINATOR
Full Professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
PhD in Psychology from the University of La Laguna. Coordinator of the Official and Inter-University Master’s Degree in Family, Social, and Community Intervention and Mediation at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
President of the Hestia Association for Family, Psychoeducational, and Social Intervention and Research since 2008, promoting intervention projects for vulnerable individuals funded by various departments of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Gran Canaria Island Council, the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, and the Arrecife City Council in Lanzarote.
Member of the Competitive Research Group on Inclusive Education, Society, and Family at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Member of the Expert Group on Positive Parenting of the Ministry of Social Policy and Agenda 2030, as well as the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), from 2009 to the present, advising both the FEMP and the Ministry on matters of Positive Parenting.
During this advisory work, various publications on Positive Parenting have been developed, which are highly relevant for professionals working in the fields of Social Services, Education, Healthcare, and Law. The most recent publication, in 2021, was the “Guide to Interprofessional Competencies in Positive Parenting,” which identifies the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that professionals from various disciplines should possess to work effectively in the areas of Childhood and Family.
Currently, the project “New Integrated Model of Municipal Social Services from the Perspective of Positive Parenting: ‘Crecer Felices en Familia II,’ A Positive Parenting Psychoeducational Programme to Promote Child Development and Family Well-being” is being implemented as part of the recovery, transformation, and resilience plan. This project, coordinated by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is being carried out in collaboration with the Madrid City Council.
The symposium addresses the importance of family and social support as a fundamental pillar for psychosocial development across different contexts and life stages. The presented communications offer a multidimensional perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by families today.
In the realm of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), their impact on family dynamics is highlighted, presenting both opportunities and risks, particularly in parental supervision. Informal support networks can strengthen parents’ educational responses and encourage a healthy and shared use of digital technology, improving relationships between parents and their children.
On the other hand, early school dropout is identified as an issue with personal, social, and labour implications. Group-based parenting education programmes, such as “Vivir la Adolescencia en Familia”, emerge as key tools to promote parenting skills, strengthen educational participation, and prevent school dropout through an inclusive and participatory approach.
Strengthening social support networks is also crucial during adolescence. Psychoeducational programmes like “Creciendo Juntos” aim to promote Positive Youth Development by helping young people build meaningful relationships with adults and peers who act as positive role models, facilitating a healthy transition to adulthood.
Finally, the impact of incarceration on the bonds between parents and their children is addressed, highlighting the need for support factors that facilitate parental contact during this situation. This emotional bond is essential for the holistic development of children, in accordance with the rights established by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Overall, the communications in this symposium emphasise the relevance of building and strengthening support networks in diverse contexts to address the challenges of psychosocial development.