261947 Gains from the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) in Santa Cruz County: Improved parenting competence, mental health, family relationships, and child well-being in at-risk families

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Kimberly Carpenter, PhD , Applied Survey Research, San Jose, CA
Kristi Kelly, PhD , Applied Survey Research, San Jose, CA
Laurie Jacobs, PhD candidate , Applied Survey Research, San Jose, CA
  
In collaboration with First 5 Santa Cruz County in California, Applied Survey Research (ASR) conducted an outcomes analysis of the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P). Triple P is a comprehensive, evidence-based parenting and family support system. Parents are enrolled in the program by referral or court mandate from local agencies (Head Start, Child Welfare, substance abuse programs, etc.). During FY 2010-2011, 349 parents participated in Triple P. They were predominantly low-income, female (70%), and with either Latino (57%) or Caucasian (35%) ethnicity. Parents completed a set of measures that indexed parent and child mental health, parenting practices, parent self-efficacy, and parent-child relationship quality. Standardized clinical cut-off scores determined risk status on each measure. Data from the Child Welfare Department determined child abuse risk status. Paired comparisons of pre and post measures suggest strong effects of the program in all areas, particularly for high risk participants. For example, both harsh and lax parenting behavior, as well as child problem severity, declined between the beginning and end of the program. In addition, data from the Child Welfare Department indicate a significant reduction in substantiated maltreatment allegations and new foster care placements for parents who participated in Triple P compared to a matched control group. These results support Triple P as an effective early intervention strategy, particularly for families at greater risk for conflict, maladaptive parenting practices, and escalating child behavior problems. The program also serves as a potential protective factor to help parents cope more effectively with future parenting challenges.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the effect of Triple P on parenting competence, parent and child mental health, and the quality of parent-child relationships. 2. Describe the degree to which family demographics and risk factors are associated with Triple P outcomes. 3. Identify the impact of the Triple P program on families in the child welfare system.

Keywords: Outcomes Research, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold a PhD in Developmental Psychology, focusing on parenting, early child development, and interventions to improve developmental outcomes. I have been working in the field as a professor and researcher for eight years, and hold the position of Senior Research Analyst at Applied Survey Research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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