The family keyworker as a critical element for attachment resilience in the face of adversity

Abstract

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Attachment resilience is the ability of attachment relation-ships to survive adversity and maintain their functions inthe face of stress and is a critical component of personaland family resilience. This property is the result of interac-tive influences across multiple systems of care. In this way,security is transferred across what we call chains of secu-rity. This paper will delve into how family keyworkers(i.e., professionals who are referential and responsible forfamily intervention plans) function as a critical link withinthese chains of security for hard-to-reach families: first,through attachment-like relationships that foster attach-ment resilience within families that are vulnerable or faceadversity, and second, as receptors and transmitters ofsecurity by means of attachment-centered supervision.Sensitivity, repair, and mentalization are highlighted askey processes constant across these multisystemic levels.