By Dave DeFusco
At the Katz School’s Graduate Symposium on Science, Technology and Health in May, Bella Chilczuk, a student in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate, shared findings from a project that shows how something as joyful and fundamental as play can strengthen families. Her presentation, “Promoting Family Resilience: Tier-1 Strength-Based Program to Enhance Parent-Child Play Interactions,” was not only the product of her own dedication, but the result of a unique collaboration spanning two universities, two principal investigators and three student researchers.
The project was co-led by Dr. Amiya Waldman-Levi, a former Katz School clinical associate professor, and Dr. Sarah Fabrizi, associate professor of occupational therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University. Together, they guided a student team that included Chilczuk, Gabrielle Tavory from the Katz School and Zoe Hill from FGCU. Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» and FGCU even signed a formal agreement to enable this cross-institutional partnership—a step that reflects both schools’ commitment to advancing research that addresses real-world needs.
“Parental stress affects how competent a parent feels,” said Chilczuk. “It impacts how much time they spend playing with their children, and that has real developmental consequences. Our goal was to design a program that supports parents by building on their existing strengths.”
The project explored a tier-1, strengths-based educational program for parents of children ages 2 to 5. Tier-1 interventions, commonly used in public health and education, are designed to be low-cost, preventative and scalable, making them ideal for families across diverse communities. At the heart of this intervention is play, which Chilczuk described as “not just about having fun, but about learning, connecting and growing.”
“Taking the lead on this clinical research project was a very rewarding experience,” said Chilczuk. “The experience deepened my research skills and showed me how meaningful collaboration can elevate the quality of scientific work. The whole experience boosted my confidence and research skills in ways I never expected.”
While many interventions use play in child development, few focus specifically on parent-child play as a driver of family resilience. According to Waldman-Levi, “Bella’s project fills that gap by targeting both the parent and child through education and engagement, rather than focusing solely on therapeutic intervention for the child.”
The study used a mixed-methods, two-group pre- and post-test design, with IRB approval and a registered trial through FGCU. Despite the small sample size, the team saw promising results: even brief, virtual educational sessions improved parents’ sense of competence and their ability to engage their children through play.
Dr. Fabrizi underscored the importance of this outcome: “It demonstrates that empowering parents through education can strengthen the parent-child relationship, improve developmental outcomes and lay the foundation for greater family resilience. That’s critical in today’s world, where families are under more stress than ever.”
The research also reflects a shared philosophy between the two universities: using a strength-based lens to empower families rather than focusing on deficits. As Dr. Waldman-Levi explained, “By focusing on what families can do, rather than what they’re lacking, this model builds confidence. That confidence ripples through everything: how a parent advocates for their child, how they cope with daily stress, and how they build moments of joy through play.”
For the three student researchers—Chilczuk and Gabrielle Tavory from Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» and Zoe Hill from FGCU—the collaboration was a chance to work across institutions, share expertise and see the impact of their work on families.
“This project was a true collaboration at every level,” said Waldman-Levi. “We are very proud of Bella, Gabby and Zoe, and of what they accomplished together. Their work highlights not only the power of play, but also the power of partnership.”
