Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Child Welfare Involved Parents and Pathways Triple P: Perceptions of Program Acceptability and Appropriateness

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 26 October 2016

Abstract

Nearly half of children in the child welfare system have clinically significant behavior problems and are at risk of developing disruptive behavioral disorders. Yet, behavioral parent training interventions, which are the most effective way to treat these problems, are rarely provided to child welfare involved families. As a result, little is known about the acceptability and appropriateness of these parent training interventions with these families. This qualitative study explored implementation outcomes of an evidenced-based parenting intervention, Pathways Triple P, with families in the child welfare system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents investigated for child maltreatment (n = 47); following participation in the Pathways Triple P. Parents were asked about their perceptions of acceptability (program satisfaction) and appropriateness (program fit). Despite the complicated and often chaotic lives common among this vulnerable population, study findings suggest that most parents found the intervention to be useful and relevant. Pathways Triple P’s content, structure and materials for parents were key aspects of acceptability and appropriateness. Barriers to participation were also identified separately for parents who did not receive the full dosage of the intervention. Study findings indicate that Pathways Triple P is a promising strategy to improve behavioral health outcomes for maltreated children and increase positive parenting behaviors for child welfare involved parents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ammerman, R. T. (1998). Methodological issues in child abuse and neglect research. In J. R. Lutzker (Ed.), Handbook of child abuse research and treatment (pp. 117–132). New York: Plenum.

  • Barth, R. P. (2009). Preventing child abuse and neglect with parent training: Evidence and opportunities. Future of Children, 19(2), 95–118.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodenmann, G., Cina, A., Ledermann, T., & Sanders, M. R. (2008). The efficacy of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program in improving parenting and child behavior: A comparison with two other treatment conditions. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46(4), 411–427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaffin, M., Bonner, B. L., & Hill, R. F. (2001). Family preservation and family support programs: Child outcomes across client risk levels and program types. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 1269–1289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaffin, M., Hecht, D., Bard, D., Silovsky, J. F., & Beasley, W. H. (2012). A statewide trial of the SafeCare home-based services model with parents in Child Protective Services. Pediatrics, 129, 509–515.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • De Graff, I., Speetjens, P., Smit, F., De Wolff, M., & Tavecchio, L. (2008). Effectiveness of the Triple P Positive Parenting Program on parenting: A meta-analysis. Family Relations, 57, 553–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePanfilis, D., & Dubowitz, H. (2005). Family connections: A program for preventing child neglect. Child Maltreatment, 10, 108–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eyeberg, S. M., & Ross, A. W. (1978). Assessment of child behavior problems: The validation of a new inventory. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 7, 113–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaura-Edwards, A., Whitaker, D. J., Lutzker, J. R., Self-Brown, S., & Lewis, E. M. (2012). SafeCare: Application of an evidence-based program to prevent child maltreatment. In A Rubin (Ed). Empirically Supported Programs and Interventions in Child Welfare (pp. 259–272). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.

  • Gershater-Molko, R. M., Lutzker, J. R., & Wesch, D. (2003). Project SafeCare: Improving health, safety, and parenting skills in families reported for, and at-risk for child maltreatment. Journal of Family Violence, 18, 377–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guba, E. G. (1981). Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries. Educational Resources Information Center Annual Review Paper, 29, 75–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, D. J., & Warner, J. E. (1994). Treatment adherence of maltreating families: A survey of professionals regarding prevalence and enhancement strategies. Journal of Family Violence, 9, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., & Wassell, G. (2000). Predictors of barriers to treatment and therapeutic change in outpatient therapy for antisocial children and their families. Mental Health Services Research, 2, 27–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 617–627.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kruzich, J. M., Jivanjee, P., Robinson, A., & Friesen, B. J. (2014). Family parents’ perceptions of barriers to and supports of participation in their children’s out-of-home treatment. Psychiatric Services, 54, 1513–1518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohl, P., Schurer, J., & Bellamy, J. (2009). The state of parent training: Program offerings and empirical support. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 90(3):248--254.

  • Lundahl, B. W., Tollefson, D., Risser, H., & Lovejoy, M. C. (2008). A meta-analysis of father involvement in parent training. Research on Social Work Practice, 18, 97–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundquist, L. M., & Hansen, D. J. (1998). Enhancing treatment adherence, social validity, and generalization of parent-training interventions with physically abusive and neglectful families. In J. R. Lutzker (Ed.), Handbook of child abuse research and treatment (pp. 449–471). US: Springer.

  • Marsh, J. C., Smith, B. D., & Bruni, M. (2011). Integrated substance abuse and child welfare services for women: A progress review. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 466–472. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.06.017.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • McWey, L. M., Holtrop, K., Wojciak, A. S., & Claridge, A. M. (2015). Retention in a parenting intervention among parents involved with the child welfare system. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(4), 1073–1087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Murray, J., & Farrington, D. P. (2010). Risk factors for conduct disorder and delinquency: Key findings from longitudinal studies. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55, 633–642.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nowak, C., & Heinrichs, N. (2008). A comprehensive meta-analysis of Triple P—Positive Parenting Program using hierarchical linear modeling: Effectiveness and moderating variables. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 11, 114–144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • NVivo 10 [software program] (2012). QSR International. http://www.qsrinternational.com/products_nvivo.aspx. Accessed 5 Jan 2014.

  • Petra, M., & Kohl, P. (2010) Pathways Triple P and the child welfare system: A promising fit. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(4), 611–618.

  • Pleck, J. H. (2012). Integrating father involvement in parenting research. Parenting, 12, 243–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pope, C., Ziebland, S., & Mays, N. (2000). Analysing qualitative data. British Medical Journal, 320(7227), 114–116.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Prinz, R. J., Sanders, M. R., Shapiro, C. J., Whitaker, D. J., & Lutzker, J. R. (2009). Population-based prevention of child maltreatment: The US Triple P system population trial. Prevention Science, 10(1), 1–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, E. K., Landsverk, J., Aarons, G., Chambers, D., Glisson, C., & Mittman, B. (2009). Implementation research in mental health services: An emerging science with conceptual, methodological, and training challenges. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 36, 24–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, E., Silmere, H., Raghavan, R., Hovmand, P., Aarons, G., Bunger, A., & Hensley, M. (2011). Outcomes for implementation research: Conceptual distinctions, measurement challenges, and research agenda. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 38(2), 65–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J., & Lewis, J. (Eds.). (2003). Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Saldana, L. (2015). An integrated intervention to address the comorbid needs of families referred to child welfare for substance use disorders and child neglect: Fair pilot outcomes. Child Welfare, 94(4).

  • Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C., Tully, L. A., & Bor, W. (2000). The triple P-positive parenting program: A comparison of enhanced, standard, and self-directed behavioral family intervention for parents of children with early onset conduct problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 624–640. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.68.4.624.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C., & Turner, K. M. (2003). Theoretical, scientific and clinical foundations of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program: A population approach to the promotion of parenting competence (Vol. 1). Queensland: Parenting and Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, M. R., & Pidgeon, A. M. (2005). Practitioner’s manual for Pathways Triple P. Brisbane, QLD: Triple P International.

  • Staudt, M. (2007). Treatment engagement with parents of at-risk children: Gaps in research and conceptualization. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 183–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Traube, D. E., He, A. S., Zhu, L., Scalise, C., & Richardson, T. (2015). Predictors of substance abuse assessment and treatment completion for parents involved with child welfare: One state’s experience in matching across systems. Child Welfare, 94, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, K. M., & Sanders, M. R. (2006). Help when it’s needed first: A controlled evaluation of brief, preventive behavioral family intervention in a primary care setting. Behavior Therapy, 37(2), 131–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. H., Van Dorn, R. A., Bright, C. L., Jonson-Reid, M., & Nebbitt, V. E. (2010). Child maltreatment and. delinquency onset among African American adolescent males. Research on Social Work Practice, 20, 253–259.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, T. L., Sofronoff, K., & Sanders, M. R. (2009). Pathways Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program: Effects on parent-child relationships and child behavior problems. Family Process, 48, 517–530.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington University, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Ericka M. Lewis, Nicole Fedoravicis & Patricia L. Kohl

  2. University of Connecticut, West Hartford, CT, USA

    Megan Feely

  3. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Kristen D. Seay

Authors
  1. Ericka M. Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Megan Feely
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kristen D. Seay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicole Fedoravicis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Patricia L. Kohl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ericka M. Lewis.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Research involving human participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0599-y.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lewis, E.M., Feely, M., Seay, K.D. et al. Child Welfare Involved Parents and Pathways Triple P: Perceptions of Program Acceptability and Appropriateness. J Child Fam Stud 25, 3760–3770 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0526-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0526-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation