Early intervention in the family system: A framework and review

Abstract

A framework for understanding the effect of early intervention on family structure and functioning is presented. The framework uses five sets of variables to characterize families: Their ecology; and the values, roles, personalities, and interactions of family members. Twenty research studies that met criteria of having comparison/control groups, beginning intervention either prenatally or during the first 3 months of infancy, and directing intervention to family functioning are abstracted and examined in detail. Successful and unsuccessful studies are compared as to population and nature of intervention. Two criteria of success are used: (1) The commonly used criterion of any positive change; (2) a more rigorous criterion of change in at least three areas of family functioning, based on the assumption that more pervasive change will have more lasting influence on child development. Application of the first criterion found that 75% of early family focused intervention studies showed a successful outcome. Application of the latter criterion found that 50% showed a successful outcome. Further, there were no significant differences between successful and unsuccessful studies as to target group or type of intervention. The review suggests that early intervention targeted at family functioning is effective and that a more pervasive and sustained effect is likely if the intervention includes at least 11 or more contacts over at least a 3‐month period.

Early parenting intervention aimed at maternal sensitivity and discipline: a process evaluation

“…Interventions that also involved the father were significantly more effective in enhancing sensitivity than those focusing on mothers only. This is consistent with the family systems approach, which emphasizes the combined effects of both mother-child and father-child relationships and effects of the interaction between the parents on child outcome (Cowan, 1997;Egeland et al, 2000;Heinicke, Beckwith, & Thompson, 1988). In the context of an intervention, fathers may strengthen mothers' motivation to participate and provide support for their attempts to practice new parenting skills in everyday family life.…”

Early Parenting Intervention: Family Risk and First-time Parenting Related to Intervention Effectiveness

“…Further, a particularly salient aspect for future investigation is the accumulation of family or contextual risk. While most parenting intervention studies investigate intervention effects on child outcomes, additional research needs to shed light on intervention effects on parenting, since these may mediate child outcomes (Cowan 1997;Egeland et al 2000;Heinicke et al 1988). …”

Lutter contre la pauvreté ou ses effets? Les programmes d’intervention précoce

“…Ces programmes sont offerts à la maison ou dans des centres de développement ; on y dispense des enseignements sur le développement et la santé de l'enfant, sur le contrôle de la fertilité, et selon le cas, on encourage ou on aide la mère à parfaire ses études ou à se trouver un emploi. Deux méta-analyses récentes [c'est-à-dire des analyses qui portent sur les rapports évaluatifs déjà publiés et qui tentent d'en tirer les grandes leçons], l'une portant spécifiquement sur les programmes destinés aux mères adolescentes (Clewell et al, 1989) et l'autre examinant des programmes plus largement destinés à la famille toute entière (Heinicke et al, (1988) concluent qu'au moins 50% de ces programmes sont efficaces si l'on impose des critères de changement multiples (dans trois sphères au moins de la vie familiale) ; selon un critère moins strict (changements notés dans au moins une sphère de la vie familiale), 75% de ces programmes atteindraient leurs objectifs. Dans le cas des programmes destinés aux mères adolescentes, les effets sont doubles.…”