Parents Make the Difference II: Trial of a Parenting Intervention

Parents Make the Difference II: A Randomized Experiment of a Parent Training Program for Caregivers of Young Children Designed to Reduce the Use of Harsh Punishment and Improve Child-caregiver Relationships

Multisite randomized trial of a parenting intervention in Liberia for caregivers of young children. Two main objectives of the "Parents Make the Difference" program are to teach parents (a) skills for decreasing harsh punishments and replacing those with positive ways to manage children's behavior and (b) skills for having more positive interactions with their children, including interactions that encourage learning. As a result of positive changes in parenting, the investigators expect that, over time, children's behavioral and cognitive well-being will improve and that future abuse and poor developmental outcomes will be prevented in the long-term.

This is a multisite randomized trial of a parenting intervention in Liberia for caregivers of young children. The "Parents Make the Difference" program is designed to teach parents (a) skills for decreasing harsh punishments and replacing those with positive ways to manage children's behavior and (b) skills for having more positive interactions with their children. As a result of positive changes in parenting, the investigators expect that, over time, children's behavioral and cognitive well-being will improve and that the intervention will prevent future abuse and poor developmental outcomes in the long-term. This study will randomize 816 caregivers of children ages 3 or 4 years to 1 of 3 study arms: standard group program, group program plus home visits, waitlist control.

Inclusion Criteria:

• caregiver of child ages 3 or 4
• live within catchment area of each study site
• caregiver is at least 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• does not live with child