Bibliographies
The following bibliography has been compiled from the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database and other resources held in the Institute's library. Where available a link to the document on the Web is provided. Most items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the inter library loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Early intervention programs for parents
Balancing work and family: A controlled evaluation of the
Triple P-Positive Parenting Program as a work-site
intervention.
Martin, Alicia J; Sanders, Matthew R
Child and Adolescent Mental Health v.8 no.4 Nov 2003: 161-169, tables
Behavioural family intervention has been shown to be effective
with children exhibiting behavioural and emotional problems. The authors
point out, however, that little work has been done to examine the
relationship between parents' ability to manage work responsibilities and
home responsibilities. In this study, 42 parents reporting difficulties
managing work and home responsibilities and their children's behavioural
problems were assigned either to a work place group parenting program
based on the Triple-P Positive Parenting Program, or to a control group.
Those parents participating in the work place Triple P group showed
improvements in managing home and work responsibilities and in reported
levels of work stress and parental distress; these improvements were
maintained at a four months follow up.
Barriers to service delivery for young pregnant women and mothers (2007): Report to the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS)
Deborah Loxton, Jenny Stewart Williams & Lyn Adamson
Newcastle, NSW: University of Newcastle. Online
This project was conducted to increase knowledge and understanding of access to and use of services by young pregnant women and mothers. Participants – service providers, and young pregnant women and mothers – attended focus groups or completed phone or face-to-face interviews. Barriers to and facilitators of service delivery clustered into three groups: common barriers; those specific to a particular service; and those relevant for vulnerable subgroups. From these, a set of best practice principles was derived highlighting the importance of the relationship between the young women and service providers and the range of pathways into the service for the young women. The report also highlights the critical role played by inter-service networking and collaboration in contributing to the wide dissemination of information about services available to young women in general, not just those who are pregnant.
Blending whanau/family development, parent support and early childhood education programmes.
Munford, Robyn; Sanders, Jackie; Maden, Bruce; Maden, Elizabeth
Social Policy Journal of New Zealand no.32 Nov 2007: 72-87. Online
Internationally, the combination of early childhood education and parent support and whanau / family development initiatives are recognised as having the potential to improve child outcomes and overall whanau / family well being. This paper considers the experience of a community organisation, Te Aroha Noa Community Services, that has successfully blended these two service components. The paper highlights some of the benefits of this program, which developed from a playgroup and counselling service in the 1990s into a fully developed community centre and licensed early childhood centre in 2004. The paper also considers some of the challenges the current policy environment poses for services that blend early childhood and parent support initiatives. Two related areas of tension are identified: the perceived emphasis on staff qualification as a key marker of a high quality program, and the funding model for early childhood care and education programs, an unintended consequence of which may be to disadvantage services that have high levels of parent engagement. (Journal abstract, edited)
Can parent education still be called 'the
cornerstone of child abuse prevention' when neither
the voices of the parents or children are heard?
Jewell,
Pat
In: Ninth Australasian
Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, November 2003:
Many Voices, Many Choices - ACCAN papers and presentations.
Sydney, NSW: Department of Community Services, 13p,
Online only (PDF 164 KB)
How can the
aims of a parent program be achieved if it has not
explored the parents' needs, experiences and beliefs
or even heard the parents' stories? This paper discusses
changes in the development and meaning of parent education,
and argues that for too long parent education has worked
from a deficit model that helped parents identify what
they were doing wrong. The content and delivery of
'prescriptive parent education programs' and of 'inclusive
programs' are discussed and compared, and it is argued
that the prescriptive program needs to be reevaluated
in the context of new research, and in the context
of the many changes to community and family life in
the last century. The family is struggling to hold
itself together in an ever changing and challenging
world. The family needs support to stay a family and
to parent the next generation. Parent education needs,
in fact, to be parent support. This support needs to
have a strengths based, solution focused philosophy,
which allows families to recognise, and build on, their
emotional strengths and connectedness. Only when 'prescriptive'
programs become 'inclusive' programs can parent education
'support' programs still be acknowledged as 'a cornerstone
of child abuse prevention', the paper concludes.
Children and families in transition: Towards a
child-centred integrated model of practice.
Bagshaw,
Dale Margaret; Quinn, Karolyne; Schmidt, Birte
Magill, SA: Hawke
Research Institute for Sustainable Societies, University of South
Australia, 2006, 316p, figures, and Online (PDF 1.61 MB)
The
project Children and Families in Transition (CAFIT) is an ongoing,
collaborative research-based project between the Conflict Management
Research Group, Hawke Research Institute, University of South Australia
and Centacare Family Services, funded by the Telstra Foundation. It aims
to research the experiences and special service needs of separated
families and their children in order to develop early intervention
strategies to promote child-centred practices and positive, cooperative
parenting, informing a 'best practice' model of service provision to be
piloted and tested. This report outlines the findings of first stage
research. This included a literature review, an initial online survey of
service providers nationally and internationally, and then interviews
with key stakeholders, including separating parents and caregivers and
their children, and staff from selected service providers, including
those working with separating Indigenous families; the appendices provide
details. Seven sets of recommendations were developed to address the
following: hearing children's voices when their parents separate;
enhancing communications between parents and their children before,
during and after separation; minimising the effects of parental conflict,
violence and abuse on the children; assisting parents to help their
children cope with separation; supporting children, and also specifically
Aboriginal children, during the separation of their parents; developing a
best-practice child-centred model of service delivery for children and
families in transition. The second stage of the project to be carried out
in 2006 is outlined.
The Circle of Security: Roadmap to building supportive relationships.
Dolby, Robyn
Watson, ACT: Early Childhood Australia, 2007, 26p (Research in practice v.14 no.4)
The Circle of Security is an early intervention program for parents and children. The Circle of Security map is central to the program. It helps parents and other carers to follow and meet children's relationship needs. The map draws a clear link between attachment and learning, and is therefore relevant to early childhood professionals as well as parents. This book explains practical ways in which carers and parents can use the Circle of Security map to understand and respond to children's emotional and relationship needs.
Community interventions for vulnerable children and families: Participation and power.
Katz, Ilan
Communities, Children and Families Australia v.3 no.1 Dec 2007: 19-33
Early intervention programs for vulnerable children are increasingly focused on developing holistic and comprehensive interventions that engage with the community or neighbourhood as well as individual children and families. This article discusses some of the policy and practice issues relating to community interventions for children, focusing on the challenges of participation and empowerment of parents and children. Participation and empowerment in the development and management of programs has become a fundamental component, not only as an objective in its own right but also because 'ownership' of the intervention by the community is said to create higher quality services and enhance children's outcomes. However, many tensions and challenges relating to participation remain, including representation, conflicts of interest, accessing hard to reach families and interaction with mainstream services. Another issue is the interface between community interventions and statutory child protection services, which tend to focus on the risk to the child and seldom take into account the community context. Despite these challenges, evidence is beginning to emerge of the effectiveness of participation as a component of child protection strategies. (Journal abstract, edited)
Community-wide implementation of a parenting program: The South East
Sydney Positive Parenting Project (PDF 81 KB)
Dean, Carlie;
Myors, Karen; Evans, Elizabeth
Australian e-Journal for the
Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov 2003: 12p, tables,
Online only
This paper provides a description and
evaluation of a community wide implementation of a parenting program -
the group version of Triple P - in South Eastern Sydney. The
implementation was undertaken in partnership with a range of public
health services and community agencies that participated on a voluntary
basis. A number of strategies were shown to develop the capacity of
services and professionals to deliver the Triple P program to parents.
Parent evaluations at the conclusion of the program demonstrated a
reduction in disruptive child behaviour, lower levels of dysfunctional
parenting, reduction in conflict between parents over child rearing, and
gains in parental mental health. Gains in all of these domains were
maintained at 6 and 12 month follow up. The results of the study indicate
that it is possible to take a population health approach to parenting,
successfully involve multiple services and professionals in the delivery
of the program, and maintain the effectiveness of the parenting
intervention in a community wide implementation. (Journal abstract)
Cost effectiveness of early intervention programs for Queensland.
Valentine, Kylie; Katz, Ilan
West End, Qld: Queensland Council of Social Service, 2007, 40p. Online (PDF 499 KB)
Research demonstrates that effective early intervention programs are long term, evidence based and comprehensive. Interventions that are well developed, adequately resourced and implemented successfully can produce tangible effects on children and families. The cost effectiveness of early intervention programs is relatively well established. This paper reviews research of early intervention programs and early intervention service systems. It also reviews the literature on the potential benefits to Queensland of funding a comprehensive suite of early intervention programs. Early intervention programs include home visiting by professionals or volunteers, parent education and training, quality child care and preschool, family support, school based programs and community wide interventions.
Early intervention and the sensitivities of 'vulnerable' families.
Goodfellow, Joy
Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal no.17 Summer 2006: 32-39
Socially vulnerable parents who participated in an early intervention program that was delivered in mainstream child care services were interviewed about their experiences. The main themes that emerged related to the development of trust and connectedness with others.
Early intervention for preschoolers with behaviour problems: Preliminary findings for the Exploring Together Preschool Program.
Reid, Kate; Littlefield, Lyn; Hammond, Sabine W
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.7 no.1 Mar 2008: 15p.
There is increasing recognition of the need for early intervention into behavioural problems in preschool aged children (3-6 years) to prevent long-term adverse outcomes. This paper reports on the 'Exploring Together Preschool Program' (ETPP), an innovative, developmental theory based, early intervention program, aimed at preschoolers referred with behaviour problems who are at risk of developing ongoing mental health problems. ETPP is a multifaceted group program comprising parent behaviour management training, parent-child interaction therapy, and children's social problem-solving training. Seven groups comprising 37 preschoolers and one of their parents referred from clinical and community settings participated in the 10-week program. Results indicate that children's behaviour problems reduced clinically and significantly from pre- to post-program whilst social skills improved significantly. Parenting practices and parents' satisfaction with their role also improved significantly. Improvements were mostly maintained at 6-month follow-up. Developmental theory suggests that these changes will help prevent behaviour problems from developing into long-term, enduring mental health problems. The study provides preliminary evidence that ETPP is a theoretically and developmentally sound, comprehensive intervention for Australian families with preschool aged children who show early signs of mental health problems. (Journal abstract)
Early intervention parenting program.
Jenkin,
Constance; Jewell, Pat
Child Abuse Prevention Newsletter v.13 no.2
Winter 2005: 6-8, and Online
This article discusses an early
intervention program aimed at making a positive contribution to the ways
professionals in community agencies work with children aged up to five
years. The model focuses on prevention of child abuse by early
intervention and builds on existing parenting programs that support
families and young children. The aims of the program were: to provide
information and support; to assist workers to understand the needs of
vulnerable families; to encourage agencies to use more group work with
parents to reduce feelings of isolation; and to improve ways of working
with families in community agencies.
The effectiveness of parenting programs in Australia:
Comparing and contrasting Triple P and Parent-Child Interaction
Therapy.
Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie J; Thomas, Rae
In: Ninth Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, November
2003: Many Voices, Many Choices - ACCAN papers and presentations. Sydney,
NSW: Department of Community Services, 21p, Online only (Power point
presentation in PDF format 134K)
This presentation introduces
two evidence-based parenting programs for parents and young children with
behavioural problems - Triple P Positive Parenting Program, and
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Method of intervention and
skills developed are summarised for each program, as are evaluation
findings.
Engaging primary health care providers in the promotion of healthy weight among young children: Barriers and enablers for policy and management.
Hearn, Lydia; Miller, Margaret; Cross, Donna
Australian Journal of Primary Health v.13 no.2 Aug 2007: 66-79
Recent national efforts to stem the alarming growth of childhood overweight and obesity in Australia have highlighted the importance of preventative strategies that focus beyond the child: on parents, families, primary health care providers (PHCPs) and child care services. But, while such efforts have to date focused on school based interventions, once poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles have set in, PHCPs can play a more influential role in monitoring and modifying factors affecting prevention and early intervention in preschool children. This paper presents findings of a systematic review to: identify key barriers to the effective engagement of PHCPs with parents and child care staff in the promotion of healthy weight among children aged 2-6 years; appraise promising interventions for strengthening the capacity of PHCPs to effectively deal with these barriers; and synthesise policy options to encourage and engage PHCPs. (Journal abstract, edited)
Evaluation of the Family Intervention Service for children presenting
with characteristics associated with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder.
Rogers, Helen; Cann, Warren; Cameron, Daisy;
Littlefield, Lyn; Lagioia, Vince
Australian e-Journal for the
Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov 2003: 10p, figures.
The Victorian Parenting Centre Family
Intervention Service (FIS) conducts brief group and individual parent
training programs (Triple P) intended as preventative interventions for
families of children at risk of developing emotional and behavioural
problems. This paper reports on an evaluation of a Triple P intervention
specifically with children exhibiting ADHD characteristics. Pre and post
intervention parental self report data were analysed for 83 children aged
2 to 15 years. Following the FIS intervention there was a reduction in
problem behaviour scores of children perceived to have a high frequency
of behaviours typical of ADHD. Mothers also reported reduced depression,
anxiety and stress, increased feelings of satisfaction and competency in
parenting, less negative parenting behaviour, and reduction in parental
conflict. Furthermore, they expressed a high level of satisfaction with
the program. These evaluation findings are consistent with those of
controlled investigations of the impact of behavioural family
intervention on problematic behaviours of children with ADHD. (Journal
abstract)
Every child is important: What parents have told us they
want in parenting education and support: How to improve primary child
abuse prevention initiatives.
De Hoogd, Debby;
Mitchell, Janise; Tucci, Joe
In: Ninth Australasian Conference on
Child Abuse and Neglect, November 2003: Many Voices, Many Choices - ACCAN
papers and presentations. Sydney, NSW: Department of Community Services,
21p, Online only (PDF 68 KB)
Details are presented about the 'Every Child is Important' Campaign, and
evaluation findings are summarised from the parenting education
component, with key themes identified. The campaign has also tracked
community attitudes about parenting, children and child abuse for the
past three years, and findings are presented. Parenting needs are
identified, messages from the literature are reported, and suggestions
made on 'where to from here?'
Every Family: A public health approach to promoting children's
wellbeing: Brief report.
Sanders, Matthew R; Ralph,
Alan; Thompson, Rachel; Sofronoff, Kate; Gardiner, Paul; Bidwell, Kerry;
Dwyer, Sarah
Brisbane, Qld: Parenting and Family Support Centre,
University of Queensland, 2005, 24p, figures, tables, Online (PDF 1833 KB)
The purpose of the Every Family project was to develop
prevention and early intervention approaches, and facilitate better
training for service providers and support for depression related
research. It evaluated the impact of the Triple P - Positive Parenting
Program, which aims to improve parent child relationships and reduce
early conduct problems and anxiety in children making the transition to
school. The following findings are discussed in this report: the need
for a population level parenting intervention; community acceptance of
large scale, population level parenting interventions; strengthening of
the capacity of the workforce to deliver evidence based parenting
programs; the shared vision across sectors about the value of parenthood
preparation; the effectiveness of Triple - P as a multi level public
health approach to strengthening parenting in the community. The report
also discusses key lessons learned, from the planning phase, about
engaging parents, about project management, about aids and obstacles to
program use, and about working together.
Evidence for change.
Sims, Margaret
Rattler no.85 Autumn 2008: 10-13
Research into stress in children shows that children who have formed secure attachments with their caregivers demonstrate transitory peak reactions when stressed but quickly return to normal. However, young children who have insecure attachments remain at high levels of stress for much longer periods of time. Children who have secure attachments to caregivers are more likely to be successful academically and socially, and to be physically and mentally healthy. This article argues that Australia is not offering sufficient support to parental and non parental caregivers to ensure the best outcomes for children. Cost benefit analyses show that high quality caregiving offered early in children's lives results in long term improvements in educational achievement, health, employment and economic prosperity. A radical rethink of support programs and the way they are funded is required in order to turn around increasingly negative outcomes for children and for society.
Family intervention services program evaluation: A brief report on
initial outcomes for families.
Cann, Warren; Rogers,
Helen; Matthews, Jan
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of
Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov 2003: 8p, table, figure.
This is a brief report on a preliminary evaluation
of the Metropolitan Family Intervention Service at the Victorian
Parenting Centre, Melbourne, Australia. It presents an analysis of pre -
post data collected from 589 mothers who commenced and completed Triple P
programs between 1999 and early 2003. Forty five percent of children were
found to be in the clinical range for child behaviour problems before
intervention. Following the parenting program only twelve percent of
children were reported by their parents to be in the clinical range.
Significant improvements were also noted in measures of parental style,
sense of competence, depression, anxiety, stress, and couple conflict.
(Journal abstract)
Fatherhood Support Project evaluation
report.
Mahony, Raema; Sheehy, Steve; Tatyzo, Marg;
Suridge, Helen; Kidner, Helen
Adelaide, SA: Women's and Children's
Hospital, 2003, 16p, Online (PDF 170 KB)
This document comprises
the executive summary of the evaluation of the Fatherhood Support
Project. It includes an overview of the project, the design of the
evaluation framework, process of evaluation and efficacy of process.
Fathers' Support Service evaluation
report.
van Reyk, Paul
North Parramatta, NSW:
UnitingCare Burnside, 2003, 56p, Online (PDF 430 KB)
This
document comprises an evaluation of the Fathers' Support Service, an
early intervention 'bridge building' program which emphasises a
non-deficit, strengths approach to fathering and actively promotes the
building of healthy and confident parenting patterns. The target group is
disadvantaged fathers in Western Sydney. The evaluation assesses the
extent to which the FSS meets its aims and mission, and the challenge of
its theoretical underpinning.
Generational change and the role of the educator.
Andrews, Kevin
Threshold no.88 Dec 2006: 10-13
Many
marriage educators are aged in their 40s and 50s, while most participants
in marriage education programs are in their 20s and 30s. How does this
generational difference affect the marriage education process? This
article considers how marriage educators may approach issues such as
changing gender roles and characteristics, the increase in cohabitation
rates, postponed commitment, different work patterns, and different
education styles and preferences.
HAPPI evaluation report: An
evaluation of the Centacare Homeless and Parenting Program Initiative,
South Australia.
Porter, Margaret; Witham, Patricia
Canberra, ACT: Department of Family and Community Services, 2003, 68p,
tables, figures, Online (PDF 207 KB)
Centacare's Homeless and
Parenting Program Initiative (HAPPI) is a mobile service working with
families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within the Adelaide
metropolitan area. It is based on an intervention model and aims to
assist families requiring help with parenting support and skills
development. It targets children up to the age of twelve, and was
designed to include a significant focus on Aboriginal families and
children. This report presents an evaluation of the program, an overview
of its position in relation to broader service delivery to homeless
families in South Australia, and a comparison with the findings and
experience of similar programs elsewhere. The report provides background
information, a literature review, the evaluation methodology and results,
summary, conclusions and recommendations. The appendices include the
client and agency questionnaires used in the evaluation.
Helping families cope: A fresh look at parent effectiveness
training.
Wood, C; Davidson, J
Family Matters no.65
Winter 2003: 28-33, tables, figures, Online (PDF 249 KB)
Australian parents are
concerned about their relationships with their children, as well as with
ways of managing children's behaviours. What is the nature of these
concerns, and did enrolling in a Parent Effectiveness Training (PET)
course make a difference? This article describes two aspects of a
controlled evaluation of twenty five Parent Effectiveness Training
courses conducted by eleven qualified instructors in six Australian
states. The first aspect of the study examined the issues that parents
perceived in their management of their children's behaviour. The second
examined the changes in parenting skills of the parents who completed a
PET course and compared them with a group of 81 controls.
Indigenous parenting
project.
Secretariat of the National Aboriginal and
Islander Child Care (SNAICC); Swinburne University of Technology.
Department of Child and Family Studies
Canberra, ACT: Department of
Family and Community Services, 2005, 107p, and Online (PDF 1722 KB)
Phase One of the Parenting Information Project consists of a
literature review, program audit and substantial national consultations
on parenting information and programs for Australian parents including
those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This
document reports upon the Indigenous component. The Department of Child
and Family Studies at Swinburne University of Technology reviewed the
literature on Indigenous parenting, and conducted a program audit which
involved the identification and documentation of the diverse range of
current Australian and international Indigenous parenting programs. The
Secretariat of the National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)
consulted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, foster
carers, Indigenous people in transition to parenthood and other family or
community members responsible for bringing up children in remote, rural
and metropolitan areas to find out what additional parenting information
and support governments should provide. The report covers all aspects of
the project, including a survey of key stakeholders specialising in
Indigenous family issues in the areas of policy development, research and
development, program planning and service delivery.
Innovative approaches to working with children.
Sheridan, Janine
Parity v.20 no.5 Jun 2007: 31-32
The Bright Futures program, operated by Merri Outreach Support Service, was created to support children in SAAP and the family violence system. Bright Futures is an early intervention and prevention program developed to fill a service gap by complementing rather than overlapping with existing support programs for children up to 15 years old. It offers the two fold approach of outreach case management and therapeutic group work. In the group work sessions, children can participate in creative activities such as music making, painting and drama. Creative activities allow children the opportunity to express and process their experiences of homelessness and family violence and to explore different ways of dealing with them. Bright Futures also encourages the input and support of parents and caregivers for the children's group work.
Learning together about the needs of parents with a mental
illness and their children: The implementation of the Mums' and Dads'
Practice Research Project.
Alakus, Carmel
Children
Australia v.29 no.2 2004: 35-40
The Mums' and Dads' Project
represented an attempt to implement a short term parent education project
in adult mental health which examined the needs of parents with a mental
illness and their children. This article reviews the program in the
style of practice research and indicates the parents' willingness and
their difficulty of informing children about mental illness. The parents
also indicated their appreciation of being able to meet with other
parents with a mental illness. It was further found that service
delivery to parents with a mental illness and their children deserves
dedicated funding if their needs are to be addressed and programs
carefully evaluated.
Learning, Enjoying, Growing, Support model: An innovative
collaborative approach to the prevention of conduct disorder in
preschoolers in hard to reach rural families.
Hourihan,
Fleur; Hoban, Deb
Australian Journal of Rural Health v.12 no.6 Dec
2004: 269-276
The Learning, Enjoying, Growing, Support (LEGS)
model was developed to provide a framework for enhancing parents' social
support, fostering positive parenting practices and enhancing child
development. This paper reports the development, implementation and
evaluation of this innovative model which was piloted in four rural
communities within the Mid Western Area Health Service, New South Wales.
The pilot targeted rural families with preschool aged children at risk of
conduct disorder, and involved a total of 33 families referred to the
program through community services where they were established clients.
The model comprised a parenting program, a children's social skills
program and a transition to school component. Group programs were run
simultaneously over 5-10 weeks. The positive impact of the model on
parenting skills and child behaviour is promising, and communities are
continuing to run the programs.
Men in Families and Families First evaluation
report.
Russell, Graeme
North Parramatta, NSW:
UnitingCare Burnside, 2003, 73p, Online (PDF 1.2 MB)
The aim
of this study was to evaluate the Men in Families and Families First
projects currently operating in the Coffs Harbour local government area.
The Men in Families project, auspiced by UnitingCare Burnside and funded
for three years by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community
Services, was aimed at first-time fathers in Coffs Harbour. The Families
First initiative is a NSW Government strategy to develop preventative and
early intervention projects that support families raising children. In
Coffs Harbour, Families First projects targeted first-time parents. The
research components of the evaluation enabled a comparative analysis to
be made in evaluating the achievements of the projects and the overall
impact upon family functioning. The evaluation report includes a
description of the research methodology, and findings in relation to:
hours and activities spent with child; perceived roles and
responsibilities of parents; services accessed by parents; ante-natal
services; hospital in-patient services (labour and post delivery);
maternity home visiting service; early childhood centre services; early
childhood home visiting nursing services; UnitingCare Burnside family
support service - Families First; UnitingCare Burnside - playgroups;
volunteer home visiting service; Aboriginal parent support service;
Families First brokerage service; influences on developing role as a
parent; employment; Men in Families project.
Ngaripirliga'ajirri: The implementation of exploring together on the Tiwi Islands.
Robinson, Gary; Tyler, William
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.7 no.1 Mar 2008: 11p.
From 1999 to 2003, the Tiwi Health Board, in partnership with University researchers, undertook the implementation of the 'Exploring Together Program' as part of a preventive strategy in response to serious social problems affecting young Tiwi people, their parents and families. The implementation of the program necessitated engagement of Tiwi communities in ways that were responsive to issues such as the local context, culture, and patterns of family life, and at the same time maintained a commitment to the core elements of the intervention as a structured intervention requiring relatively advanced professional skills to achieve consistent high standards of delivery. The delivery team included both Tiwi community members and non-Tiwi personnel. They redeveloped a number of areas of content of the program to ensure adequate recognition of important themes in Tiwi parenting and family life while retaining the key elements of structure and content. The adapted program - Ngaripirliga'ajirri - showed many highly promising outcomes and, within the limits of the research design, indicated that a structured early intervention program can be effective in remote Indigenous contexts. (Journal abstract)
Parenting Information Project: Final report.
Royal
Children's Hospital (Melbourne, Vic). Centre for Community Child
Health
Canberra, ACT: Department of Family and Community Services,
2004, 5 v., various pagings, and Online
Phase One of the
government's Parenting Information Project, undertaken between January
and May 2004 and documented here, has been to develop the evidence base
around early childhood and parenting by finding out what information
parents want and need to assist them in their parenting role, at what
transition points, and how they would prefer to receive this information.
This report on Phase 1 is in five volumes: 1) Main report; 2) Literature
review; 3) Research into the information needs of Australian parents; 4)
Consultation with professionals; and 5) Compilation of information and
program materials. A separate project with an Indigenous focus has also
been undertaken.
Parenting programs for women with mental illness who have
young children: a review.
Craig, Elizabeth A
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry v.38 no.11 - no.12 Nov -
Dec 2004: 923-928
Assuming programs which are effective for
the general population to be equally effective or suitable for parents
with mental illness may be inappropriate. The objective of this study was
to provide an overview of the literature relevant to, and describing,
parenting programs for women with mental illness who have young children.
The conclusion reached is that parenting skills training for women with
mental illness may be a useful selective preventive intervention. It is
unlikely generic programs will be suitable. Rather, interventions will
need to address the commonly experienced parenting problems as well as
the more specific needs of women with mental illness.
The Parents Under Pressure Program: preliminary results
of a parenting program targeting parents involved with child protection
agencies.
Harnett, Paul
In: Ninth Australasian
Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, November 2003: Many Voices, Many
Choices - ACCAN papers and presentations. Sydney, NSW: Department of
Community Services, 36p, Online only (Power point presentation in PDF
format 171K)
This presentation provides an overview of the
Parents Under Pressure (PUP) program, a program specifically designed for
high-risk parents with an abusive/neglectful sample. It explains what is
meant by evidence based practice; summarises research findings of the
program's effectiveness; and identifies issues in assessment and
intervention with parents involved in child protection agencies.
Preliminary evaluation of the Group Teen Triple P program for parents of
teenagers making the transition to high school.
Ralph,
Alan; Sanders, Matthew R
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement
of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov 2003: 10p.
Group Teen Triple P is a brief group parenting program
for parents of teenagers. It is based on the successful Triple P Positive
Parenting Program for parents of children aged from 0 to 12, with a focus
on helping parents manage the transition from late childhood to early
adolescence. This paper describes the initial evaluation of a universal
trial of the program offered to all parents of students entering their
first year of high school at age 12 in a regional north Queensland
school. Twenty-seven parents completed a battery of self report
questionnaires immediately before and after participating in the 8 week
program. Participating parents reported significant reductions in
conflict with their teenager, and on measures of laxness, over
reactivity, and disagreements with their partner over parenting issues.
These are well established parenting risk factors. In addition, parents
reported significant improvements on measures of self regulation,
including self efficacy, self sufficiency, and self management, and
reductions on measures of depression, anxiety, and stress. It was
concluded that a preliminary evaluation of the Group Teen Triple P
program achieved its goals of reducing targeted risk factors associated
with the development of behavioural and emotional problems in teenagers.
The paper concludes with an examination of issues around parent
recruitment and engagement which are crucial for the successful provision
of effective and timely advice and support for parents of teenagers.
(Journal abstract)
A profile of participants at NEWPIN
June 2003.
UnitingCare Burnside
North
Parramatta, NSW: UnitingCare Burnside, 2003, 34p, and Online (PDF 591 KB)
The UK initiative New Parent Infant Network (NEWPIN) is
aimed at mothers / carers of children aged 0-5 years who are at risk of
abuse or neglect, and who have emotional and behavioural problems.
Burnside NEWPIN, introduced in New South Wales in 1998, provides a
befriending and therapeutic network offering emotional and practical
support to carers and children experiencing abuse and/or neglect, aiming
to break cycles of negative behaviour. Families experiencing depression,
isolation, poverty and instability in particular are targeted. The NEWPIN
program takes place over three stages, where each stage lasts six months.
At the end of each stage participants complete a progress evaluation form
to help them consider their current position and plot broad changes in
terms of family relationships, difficulties overcome, and future goals
and direction. This report analyses this information in order to provide
a profile of the participants' experiences at NEWPIN. Secondary research
was undertaken via a literature review, and managerial staff provided
anecdotal evidence.
Reducing risk factors for adolescent behavioural and emotional problems: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a self-administered parenting intervention.
Stallman, Helen M; Ralph, Alan
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.6 no.2 Jul 2007, 6p.
Parenting practices and parent child relationships affect adolescent adjustment. This study examined the efficacy of a self directed parenting intervention for 51 parents of early adolescents (aged 12 to 14 years) who reported difficulties with their adolescent's behaviour. Two levels of intensity of a self directed intervention (self directed alone and self directed plus brief therapist telephone consultations) were compared with a waitlist control group. After intervention, parents in the enhanced condition reported significantly fewer adolescent behavioural problems and less use of over reactive parenting strategies than parents in either the standard or waitlist conditions. Improvements were maintained at 3 month follow up. This research suggests that a self directed behavioural family intervention with minimal therapist contact may be an effective early intervention for adolescent problems. It has implications for providing minimally sufficient interventions for parents using a multilevel approach to intervention as well as for making interventions more accessible for families.
Report on a program evaluation of a telephone assisted parenting support
service for families living in isolated rural areas.
Cann, Warren; Rogers, Helen; Worley, Greg
Australian e-Journal for
the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov 2003: 7p, tables.
This is a brief report of an evaluation
of a pilot project to deliver a telephone supported, self directed
parenting program to isolated families living in north eastern Victoria:
The Family Intervention Service (Isolated Rural Project). The aim of the
project was to promote the competence and confidence of parents
experiencing early difficulties in their relationship with their children
to acquire skills known to promote the development, health, safety and
emotional well being of children. The service delivered a self directed
version of the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program). Parents were
provided with a package of written resources supplemented by weekly brief
telephone consultations with a practitioner over a period of ten weeks.
Results of analyses of pre and post program data are presented for 73
families who completed the intervention. Significant improvements were
noted in child behaviour, parenting style, parental depression, anxiety,
and stress, inter parent conflict, and parent satisfaction and efficacy.
(Journal abstract)
"Round
Fire" Discussion
Group.
Australia. Migrant Information centre
Eastern Melbourne.
2006 (PDF 260 KB)
An evaluation report on a therapeutic group program for newly arrived southern Sudanese men.
Situating NEWPIN in the context of parent education and
support models.
Mondy, Linda; Mondy, Stephen
Children Australia v.29 no.1 2004: 19-25
The nature and
extent of parent education and support programs targeting parents with
children under five is reviewed. Several evaluated Australian and
overseas programs are described, and their role and effectiveness in the
prevention of child abuse and neglect are examined. The principles and
values that underpin such programs are discussed, and their common
components outlined. The New Parent Infant Network (NEWPIN) is then
situated in the broader framework of effective parent education and
support programs operating in Australia. (Journal abstract)
Theoretical, scientific and clinical foundations of the Triple P -
Positive Parenting Program: a population approach to the promotion of
parenting competence.
Sanders, Matthew R;
Markie-Dadds, Carol; Turner, Karen M T
Brisbane, Qld: Parenting and
Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland, 2003, (Parenting
research and practice monograph no.1), 24p, and Online (PDF 565 KB)
The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is a multi-level system
of family intervention which is designed to reduce the prevalence of
behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents.
Interventions include a universal population-level media strategy
targeting all parents, two levels of brief primary care consultations
targeting mild behaviour problems, and two more intensive parent training
and family intervention programs for children at risk for more severe
behavioural problems. The program aims to determine the minimally
sufficient intervention a parent requires in order to deflect a child
away from a trajectory towards more serious problems. This paper outlines
the theoretical, empirical and clinical foundations of the Program.
Training in parent consultation skills for primary care practitioners in
early intervention in the pre-school context.
Crisante, Lea
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental
Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov 2003: 10p, tables.
This paper describes the implementation of a brief behavioural
intervention, based on the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program by 13 pre
school practitioners with 39 parents. The intervention was a response to
a need identified by practitioners to deal more effectively with requests
for assistance with behaviour management by parents whose children attend
pre schools and long day care centres. Following completion of training,
practitioners were asked to implement the intervention with at least
three parents and to keep a personal diary of the strategies used during
the consultations. The practitioners reported improvements in their
skills in managing difficult behaviour in the pre school context. Parents
reported improved experience of partner support and attitudes towards
parenting, as well as high levels of satisfaction with the service
provided. The results point to the role of primary care practitioners in
providing services in settings that are easily accessed by parents, thus
increasing the availability of support to parents with young children.
(Journal abstract)
The translation of an evidence-based parenting program into regular
clinical services.
Sanders, Matthew R
Australian
e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2 no.3 Nov
2003: 4p.
It is widely accepted that
dysfunctional parenting practices and family conflict are generic risk
factors related to a wide variety of behavioural and emotional problems
in children and adolescents. The guest editor of this issue of the
journal states that the papers presented show that not only can evidence
based programs be successfully implemented across different services and
delivery contexts, but that ongoing evaluation can demonstrate that
outcomes achieved can be comparable to those achieved in clinical trials.
These programs combined with existing research trials show that Triple P
is a powerful population level intervention supporting parents to more
confidently raise their children.
Triple-P Positive Parenting Program: A population approach to promoting competent parenting.
Sanders, Matthew R
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) v.2
no.3 Nov 2003: 17p, table.
Family
conflict and poor parenting are generic risk factors associated with a
wide variety of adverse developmental outcomes in children including
increased risk for conduct problems, drug abuse, delinquency and academic
underachievement. This paper makes the case for a multi level population
based approach to the development of parental competence. Evidence is
reviewed showing that while parenting interventions based on social
learning approaches are effective, they have significant limitations in
achieving a level of population reach that will do enough to decrease the
prevalence of dysfunctional parenting. A case is made for a contextual
approach targeting the media, primary care services, schools, and work
sites as basic institutions within the community which can potentially
support the task of disseminating more widely evidence based approaches
to parenting intervention. Evidence is reviewed for the efficacy and
effectiveness of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program as a
comprehensive, multilevel system of parenting and family intervention.
The evidence reviewed shows significant effects across several trials on
both child and parent mental health outcomes. Challenges in disseminating
empirically supported interventions and possible future directions for
family intervention research are discussed. (Journal abstract)