Mar 6th, 2008
Patricia Arredondo, Ed.D.
Professor, Counseling Psychology Program, Mary Lou Fulton College of Education
Deputy Vice President / University Dean of Student Affairs
Arizona State University
Recipient of Stardust Center Seed Grant, 2006-2007
Purpose and Nature of the Project
The Stardust Intergenerational Family Project was a research study undertaken by a Counseling Psychology research team1 at Arizona State University under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Arredondo. The purpose of the project was twofold. First, researchers examined the healthcare practices, educational values and aspirations, spirituality, quality of life, family relationships and values, and overall well-being of families living in South Ranch II, a community of 195 homes developed by Valley of the Sun Habitat for Humanity nearly ten years ago. The second purpose was to create a directory of trades and services of families living in the community. In order to accomplish these goals, the research team partnered with the Home Owners Association at South Ranch II as well as the staff of the Stardust House, the community center at South Ranch II.
Procedure
The Stardust Intergenerational Family Project was conducted in English and Spanish with adolescents, their parents, and sometimes grandparents living at South Ranch II. Families were first-time homeowners. Parents in these families were primarily immigrants while their children were born in the United States. Over a two-year period, the research team met with a sample of the families to complete questionnaires relating to healthcare, education, spirituality, family relationships, values, and mental and physical health. In-depth interviews were also conducted to assess the family members' individual experiences living in South Ranch II. Of the approximately 194 families living in the community in 2006, 102 families participated in the project. The research team is currently in the process of finalizing the directory of trades and services of community members that will be distributed to households throughout South Ranch II. They are also in the process of completing the analyses on the information they collected so that it can be presented to the homeowners as well as to professionals at conferences and in journal articles. In addition, three graduate students from the research team are using the survey data in their masters' theses and doctoral dissertation.
1 The research team is composed of Dr. Patricia Arredondo, as well as thirteen doctoral and masters' students. The doctoral students are: Veronica Bordes, Rhonda Casillas, Amanda Hardy, Liza Hita, Enjolie Lafaurie, Patricia Perez, Tuyen Pham, Veronica Rodriguez, Marie-Christine Rutter, and Angela Zapata. The master students are: Andrea Cairella, Ernesto Fonseca, and Christopher Knox.