The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50025

Henry T. Ireys, PhD¹, Diane Sakwa, MBA², Dominique Charlot-Swilley, PhD³, and Katherine A. DeVet, PhD³. (1) Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20024, 202-554-7536, hireys@mathematica-mpr.com, (2) Families Involved Together, 2219 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218, (3) Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Hampton House, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205

Many communities have established parent-to-parent support programs that link at-risk families with experienced peers, but few of these programs have been rigorously evaluated. This presentation describes results of an evaluation of a parent-to-parent support program for families of children aged 9-14 years who were in treatment for serious emotional disorders (SED). The 15-month program, Parent Connections, includes a social support component (involving “Support Partners,” women who themselves had raised children with SED) and educational workshops. Program effectiveness was assessed using a randomized, repeated-measures design with 257 families enrolled at baseline. Of the 246 families with acceptable data, 135 were assigned to Parent Connections and 111 to the control group. Interviews at baseline and 12 months later included measures of maternal and child mental health. To date, information from 104 families has been used to assess program effects. Multiple regression analyses controlling for baseline scores indicate that mothers assigned to Parent Connections reported significantly more improvement in their children’s functioning compared to control group mothers. Mothers in the experimental group reported an increase in social support compared to mothers in the control group. This study represents one of the few methodologically rigorous evaluations of a parent-to-parent support program, and suggests the value of incorporating such programs into child mental health service systems. Attendance at this presentation will help participants to: 1) identify key principles for effective parent-to-parent support programs, 2) determine who might benefit most from the program, and 3) begin developing a plan to evaluate program processes and effects.

Learning Objectives: Many communities have established parent-to-parent support programs that link at-risk families with experienced peers, but few of these programs have been rigorously evaluated. This presentation describes results of an evaluation of a parent-to-parent support program for families of children aged 9-14 years who were in treatment for serious emotional disorders (SED). The 15-month program, Parent Connections, includes a social support component (involving “Support Partners,” women who themselves had raised children with SED) and educational workshops. Program effectiveness was assessed using a randomized, repeated-measures design with 257 families enrolled at baseline. Of the 246 families with acceptable data, 135 were assigned to Parent Connections and 111 to the control group. Interviews at baseline and 12 months later included measures of maternal and child mental health. To date, information from 104 families has been used to assess program effects. Multiple regression analyses controlling for baseline scores indicate that mothers assigned to Parent Connections reported significantly more improvement in their children’s functioning compared to control group mothers. Mothers in the experimental group reported an increase in social support compared to mothers in the control group. This study represents one of the few methodologically rigorous evaluations of a parent-to-parent support program, and suggests the value of incorporating such programs into child mental health service systems. Attendance at this presentation will help participants to

• identify key principles for effective parent-to-parent support programs,
• determine who might benefit most from the program, and
• begin developing a plan to evaluate program processes and effects.

Keywords: Child/Adolescent Mental Health, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.