Community-based participatory research: A framework for a quality parenting curriculum

BACKGROUND: The quality of the parent-child relationship is a strong pre-determinant of childhood outcomes. The Neighborhood Healthy Child Development project is a successful community-academic partnership conceptualized in response to significant disparities in mental health and emotional well-being among children ages 0-5 who live in poverty. Mitigating these disparities holds significant potential to improve their school readiness and improve aptitude for later adult competencies. METHODS: A diverse cross-section of community stakeholders worked collaboratively with academic researchers at each phase of the research process, to address mental health disparities among children from neighborhoods characterized by high rates of poverty, crime, unemployment, low educational attainment, mental health concerns and other factors. CBPR methodology was used to implement a three-dimensional community-driven assessment of how best to maximize community capacity to address the risk factors of poor school readiness among children ages 0-5. The community stakeholders participated in: parent/early care provider listening sessions; community education and awareness; and clinical provider engagement and education. RESULTS: It was collectively determined that one impactful best-practice approach for eliminating disparities in mental health, emotional well-being and school readiness in early childhood is through investment in quality parenting. Participating parents contributed extensively to designing, testing and piloting a sustainable, culturally appropriate, curriculum-based intervention for peer-to-peer parenting. The curriculum will be used to enhance community capacity, develop parent leaders and empower parents to transform their local community parenting culture by disseminating culturally appropriate, evidence-based information about developmentally appropriate parenting tools and skills critical for early childhood development and mental health.