Parent Engagement Package: Initial Testing of Strategies to Increase Participation in Parenting Interventions

Participation in Preventive Parenting Interventions

This study evaluated the effectiveness of strategies for engaging parents into parenting programs. Engagement strategies included a booklet showing testimonial quotes and photos from prior participants, a recommendation to attend for the child's teacher, and a motivational call from the parenting program provider. It was hypothesized that the combination of engagement strategies would increase attendance at a parenting intervention compared to receiving only a promotional brochure and research interview.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Is the biological or adoptive mother of a child in kindergarten or 3rd grade at the participating school (i.e., "target child");
• The target child lived with the mother at least half of the time;
• The mother spoke English or Spanish;

Exclusion Criteria:

• The target child changed schools;
• The mother reported the target child would be changing schools during the school year;
• The target child attended one of the participating schools during a previous cohort of the study.