Positive Adult Development (PAD) is a curriculum developed by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center to support parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in managing stress. Authored by Roxanne Carreon, B.S., Lynnette Henderson, Ph.D., Carol Rabideau, L.C.S.W., and Janet Shouse, B.J., PAD uses evidence-based positive psychology interventions to promote resilience and emotional well-being.
Key features include:
- 28-page PDF curriculum with handouts for positive psychology exercises.
- Six PowerPoint presentations for facilitating weekly group discussions.
- Flexible delivery: 6-week program with 1–1.5-hour sessions or weekend retreats.
- Designed for facilitation by trained peer mentors or mental health professionals.
Benefits: PAD helps parents temper emotions like guilt, worry, and pessimism through exercises in gratitude, forgiveness, and optimism, as validated in a 2010–2013 Vanderbilt study with 250 participants. It fosters lasting resilience, making it ideal for individual parents or peer groups seeking stress relief and personal growth.
User Qualifications: Facilitators should be knowledgeable in adult development and positive psychology, achievable through web-based lessons and readings. Peer mentors need training in group facilitation, covering professional boundaries, confidentiality, and safety concerns. Purchase PAD for individual or group use on our licensing page. For support, visit Contact Us or learn about Vanderbilt’s research at www.vanderbilt.edu/research.
Parent Stress Intervention Program (PSIP) END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENT. BY CLICKING ON THE “I ACCEPT” BUTTON AT THE END OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND AGREE TO BE BOUND AS SET FORTH HEREIN. YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU HAVE THE REQUISITE AUTHORITY AND LEGAL CAPACITY TO BIND YOUR ORGANIZATION TO THIS AGREEMENT (TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PURCHASES IS ON BEHALF OF YOUR ORGANIZATION).
The Parent Stress Intervention Program™ (PSIP) is a clinical tool that was developed at the Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University as part of a stress reduction intervention research study for parents who have children with developmental disabilities. The PSIP is intended to be used only in a mental health or institutional setting by qualified personnel (and licensed personnel, where applicable) who are group leaders and mentors teaching stress reduction to parent and caregiver groups. It is not intended to replace mental health services or consultation. The user agrees to use this product in the manner in which it is intended.
By clicking on the “I ACCEPT” button at the end of this Agreement, I agree that I possess the above qualifications deemed necessary to use this curriculum for its intended use.
PARENT STRESS INTERVENTION PROGRAM™ (PSIP)
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
DEFINITIONS
- The “Parent Stress Intervention Program” (PSIP) is composed of two separate curricula: the (i) “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Curriculum” and (ii) “Positive Adult Development Curriculum”. Licensees may license either curricula or both. The PSIP may include associated media (such as a CD) and online or electronic documentation.
- The “PSIP End User License Agreement” ("Agreement") is a legal agreement between you, the End User (whether you are an individual or a recognized legal entity), and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, the owner of the PSIP (“Vanderbilt”).
LICENSE GRANT
Vanderbilt hereby grants to you a license to access the PSIP on any one system for as many licenses as you purchase. "You" means the company, entity or individual to whom the PSIP is licensed and whose funds are used to pay the license fee. "Use" means accessing pre-recorded videos and electronic materials. You may not rent, lease, lend, sell sublicense or distribute the PSIP to another person, company or other entity. You may not copy, modify or create derivative works (as defined by the U.S. Copyright Laws at 17 U.S.C. §101) of the PSIP. This license does not include any rights to license or distribute any Microsoft media elements provided herein.
OWNERSHIP
The PSIP is owned and copyrighted by Vanderbilt. The license you receive confers no title or ownership of the PSIP and should not be construed as a sale of any right.
COPYRIGHT
The PSIP is protected by United States copyright law, international treaty provisions and other applicable law. You acknowledge that no title to the intellectual property in the PSIP is transferred to you. You further acknowledge that title and full ownership rights to the PSIP will remain the exclusive property of Vanderbilt and you will not acquire any rights to the PSIP except as expressly set forth in this license. This Agreement does not grant you any rights in the registered or unregistered trademarks of Vanderbilt for this product.
LIABILITY
You agree that you will defend, indemnify and hold Vanderbilt harmless against any claims or liabilities arising out of the use, misuse, or distribution of the PSIP including claims brought against you for the use of such training contained in the PSIP. You further agree to hold harmless and protect Vanderbilt against any such civil, legal or criminal claims which will be paid by licensee including court costs and judgments.
NO WARRANTY
The Module is being delivered to you AS IS and Vanderbilt makes no warranty as to its use or performance. VANDERBILT DOES NOT AND CANNOT WARRANT THE PERFORMANCE OR RESULTS YOU MAY OBTAIN BY USING THE PSIP™. VANDERBILT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL VANDERBILT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS OR LOST SAVINGS, EVEN IF A VANDERBILT REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY THIRD PARTY.
NOTICES
All notices required or permitted relating to a claim or breach of this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to: (i) if to the Licensee: the address provided by Customer when ordering the PSIP and (ii) if to Vanderbilt: Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, 1207 17th Avenue South, Suite 105, Nashville, Tennessee 37212 (U.S.A.) (Attn: PSIP). Either party may substitute their address from time to time by written notice to the other and shall be deemed validly given upon receipt of such notice given by certified mail, postage prepaid, or personal or courier delivery. All Limited Support or other notices relating to the usage of the Software will be provided by Licensors via either telephone or e-mail.
GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws in force in the United States of America in the state of Tennessee.
AMENDMENTS
Vanderbilt reserves the right to amend this agreement at any time.
ENFORCEABILITY
If any part of this Agreement is found void and unenforceable, the parties agree that such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this agreement.
EXPORT CONTROL
You agree that the PSIP shall not be shipped, transferred, or exported into any country or used in any manner prohibited by the United States Export Administration Act, or any other export laws, restrictions or regulations. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon failure by you to comply with its terms and conditions, or for providing false information.