Evaluation of Parenting Interventions to Decrease Family Risk for Child Maltreatment

Evaluation of Parenting Interventions to Decrease Family Risk for Child

The purpose of this research is to evaluate specific parenting programs that aim to improve the family's ability to keep children physically safe and emotionally secure. We would like to learn more about how the treatments actually help families and to find out how an intervention that focuses on child health and safety compares with one that focuses on the parent and child relationship. We also want to determine whether participating in one program type versus the other results in further reports for child maltreatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• resident of Durham, NC
• a child between the ages of 0-7 was the focus of the Department of Social Services report
• child's caregiver was the focus of the report
• Child Protective Services report occurred on or after June 1, 2004
• family is English speaking
• Sexual abuse was not "confirmed" or "highly suspicious" during an evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Child Protective Services report of sexual abuse that was "confirmed" or "highly suspicious"