Evaluating the Outcomes of Family-Based Intervention for Troubled Children: A Pretest-Posttest Study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 12-week family-based intervention for troubled children. One important element was to strengthen families. Method: Psychological, social, and demographic data on 176 parents and 160 children receiving weekly skills and relationship training were analyzed. Results: Significant improvements were found for family cohesion, family conflict, family time together, time spent in community, mental health of parents, and parenting style. Furthermore, significantly positive gains were found on the total and most subscale scores of the Child Behavior Checklist. Conclusions: Family-based intervention provided by social workers were associated with improved psychosocial functioning on the part of parents and children with child behavioral problems.

Family Ties: Constructing Family Time in Low‐Income Families

“…Too often, when low-income families are pressed into therapy, the priorities for therapeutic goals are set by issues of child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, depression, domestic violence, and delinquency and child conduct problems (Ziemba, 2001). In light of such intense and urgent issues, facilitating family time in low-income families may seem a nominal issue, even though enhancing family strengths is a therapeutic goal facilitative of and parallel to symptom reduction and behavioral change (Harrison, Boyle, & Farley, 1999). Our findings suggest that, even when minimal financial resources constrain options, therapeutic conversations or interventions promoting family time should not be excluded.…”

A Comparison of Family Interventions to Address Adolescent Risky Behaviors

“…As such, the contents and/or outcome expectancies of parent-child communication are equally critical. Third, resources for parents such as parental support, parent consultation, and parenting training were essential for generating significant long-term effects (Anderson et al, 2005;Connell et al, 2006;Harrison et al, 1999;Pantin et al, 2003;Spoth et al, 2000Spoth et al, , 2001.…”

“…In Anderson et al (2005), a family support worker delivered one-on-one interventions to the parent, and the child/children if needed. Connell et al (2006), Harrison et al (1999), Spoth et al (2000Spoth et al ( , 2001, and Stanton et al (2004) delivered interventions to parents and adolescents in separate sessions. Each of these studies provided parents with specific training in areas such as child development and behavior, developing family goals, and listening and communication.…”

Parental Methamphetamine Use and Implications for Child Welfare Intervention: A Review of the Literature

“…Parent training on social skill building has shown promise in decreasing aggressive and antisocial behaviors, increasing problem solving and conflict skills (Corcoran, 2000), and decreasing both internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children (Harrison, Boyle, & Farley, 1999). If parents are unwilling or unable to participate, child-focused interventions at appropriate age levels are warranted.…”