Dissemination of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Out of the university and into the community

Dissemination of evidence-based treatments to child abuse treatment agencies where a majority of services for at-risk families are provided is critical for improving the quality of services. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is one program that has received support for widespread dissemination. In 1999, the California Office of Emergency Services awarded funding to established child abuse treatment agencies to learn PCIT and implement this program in their communities. Since 1999, 51 child abuse treatment agencies have received training in PCIT and the use of outcome measures to both guide treatment objectives and evaluate success of their community-based PCIT programs. This study examined the outcome data for the clients served at these community-based mental health treatment agencies. Demographic and outcome measures were collected on 181 clients from 15 agencies who received PCIT training from UC Davis PCIT Training Center from 2002 to present. The mean age of children in treatment was 4.88 and most children were in treatment with their biological mother. Outcome measures that were collected include the Parent Stress Index, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, and DPICS coding results at pre, mid and post treatment. Preliminary analysis shows that children that complete treatment show a decrease in behavior problems as measured by the ECBI. In addition, parents that complete treatment showed a decrease in parental stress as well an increase in positive verbal communication skills. These findings are similar to those found in University settings. This presentation will discuss these findings and implications for future dissemination efforts.