None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Parents with an intellectual disability may experience challenges in relation to parenting skills. These challenges, in addition to potential bias from child protection staff, result in these parents being vulnerable to statutory child removal. Existing evidence demonstrates it is feasible to implement supportive programs that increase parenting skills for parents with an ID, however, there is a need for longer term evaluation of such programs to understand the impact on reducing statutory child removal over time. The proposed research intends to fill this gap and support improved practice by evaluating a 12 week parenting support program for parents with an ID where there is a risk of child protection involvement and child removal. Through a multi-agency service delivery, a randomised trial will evaluate statutory child removal outcomes after 12 months. It is intended that this evaluation will contribute to the field of research on what interventions can support a reduction in statutory child removal in families with parental ID. The research aim is to identify the long-term impact of a tailored parenting support program for parents with an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment (diagnosis is not required for participation in the program) on the rates of statutory child removal amongst these families, in comparison to the impact of a standard family services intervention. It is hypothesised that the Steps to Confident Parenting intervention will reduce the rate of child removals experienced by parents.
Interventions
An intensive (8-12 week), personalised, in person, home-based program for parents, administered by family service workers specialising in parents with an intellectual disability. The program focuses on skill development based on the parents’ specific needs and identified goals. Parenting skills could include routinely administering appropriate child discipline, encouraging healthy eating, and building parent confidence. The practitioner uses different techniques, such as role modelling, employin
An intensive (8-12 week), personalised, in person, home-based program for parents, administered by family service workers specialising in parents with an intellectual disability. The program focuses on skill development based on the parents’ specific needs and identified goals. Parenting skills could include routinely administering appropriate child discipline, encouraging healthy eating, and building parent confidence. The practitioner uses different techniques, such as role modelling, employing visual aids, and providing specific feedback to tailor the program to meet the needs of the parent and their family. Approximately four hours per week of the intervention will be administered. This time may be allocated throughout the week as needed, but is usually delivered in one hour blocks. Family service worker documentation will be used to monitor treatment adherence.
Sponsors
Barwon Child and Family Services Alliance
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used) (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Eligibility Criteria 1 – client has a child/children at risk of requiring care services. Eligibility Criteria 2 – client has a cognitive or intellectual disability/impairment (diagnosed or undiagnosed). Eligibility Criteria 3 – client is able to participate in 8/12 week home-based program. Eligibility Criteria 4 – client lives in the Barwon or Western Metropolitan region of Victoria. Eligibility Criteria 5 – client is 18 years and over. Eligibility Criteria 6 – client has at least minimal English language skills.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion Criteria 1 – client poses an immediate risk to their child, therefore requiring a Parenting Assessment and Skills Development Service (PASDS) or child protection response. Exclusion Criteria 2 – client has a transient/unstable housing situation (exceptions can be considered if appropriate housing supports are enacted to facilitate secure housing and support family stability). Exclusion Criteria 3 – client poses a risk to others.
Outcome results
None listed