Standard curriculum of parenting skills

Building parental capacity through delivery of a standard curriculum is central to the programs. Programs with this core component focus on building parenting skills, including knowledge relating to child safety.

How can it be implemented?

Many of the widespread programs have a core curriculum with a manual. Sometimes a core curriculum is used as a basis for the program, and is delivered in combination with other activities appropriate for the target group. One program (PATSCH) takes two curricula appropriate for the needs of the group, and packages them into one program.

• Activities to build parenting skills are implemented through the content of the curriculum or intervention that is delivered. Topic areas include:
• Promoting positive child development using child development activities with families
• Skills of parent-child attachment and positive parent-child interactions
• Supporting healthy child sleep patterns
• Child nutrition
• Supporting child behaviour regulation
• Identifying safety hazards in the home

Who is the target group?

This flexible activity has been implemented with several different target groups. Key characteristics include:

• First time mothers who are vulnerable, for example young mothers, single mothers, and families of low socioeconomic status
• Aboriginal mothers in Central Australia
• Families at risk using indicators such as education level, single parenthood, employment, history of abuse or neglect, potential for violence, and a history of mental illness, criminality, and drug abuse
• Families assessed as being likely to benefit from a prevention service
• African American mothers who have not accessed adequate prenatal care
• Families with prior contact with child welfare services, or who have been reported for alleged child abuse or neglect
• Universal
• Children who have shown signs of social behavioural problems; had difficulties with socio-emotional or cognitive development
• The parents lacked parenting skills
• Culturally diverse communities
• Low-income Chinese families in Hong Kong
• Families with children with behavioural concerns who might be at risk for maltreatment
• For mothers at risk of maltreating their children because of a heavy trauma burden, mental health challenges, or prior removal of a child

What programs conduct this activity?

Nurse-Family Partnership: Standard curriculum is based on the work of Olds and colleagues (1994) and covers three aspects of maternal functioning: health-related behaviours during pregnancy and the early years of the child’s life, the care parents provide to their children, and maternal life-course development (such as family planning, educational achievement, and participation in the workforce).

Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program: Standard curriculum is based on the work of Olds and colleagues (1994) and covers three aspects of maternal functioning: health-related behaviours during pregnancy and the early years of the child’s life, the care parents provide to their children, and maternal life-course development (such as family planning, educational achievement, and participation in the workforce).

Right@Home: The program is structured around the core MECSH framework and training (Kemp et al. 2011), bolstered by five evidence-based strategies for content (sleep, safety, nutrition, regulation, and bonding and/or relationship) and two for the delivery process (video feedback and motivational interviewing strategies).

Parents as Teachers: There is a set curriculum, and curriculum elements are provided at the discretion of the home visitor to allow flexibility.

Pride in Parenting: The focus of the curriculum is to improve knowledge, influence attitudes, and promote life skills. Topics for home visits include newborn care, women’s health needs, healthy relationships, family planning, immunisations, health visits, safety in the home, budgeting, developing social support, involvement of fathers, managing child behaviour, drug use and smoking.

Healthy Steps for Young Children: The program includes written materials that are used in home visits and parenting groups.

SafeCare: SafeCare is a structured training program that targets particular skills and behaviours.

SafeCare+: SafeCare is a structured training program that target particular skills and behaviours. SafeCare+ includes additional motivational interviewing for parents.

SafeCare Dad2K: SafeCare is a structured training program that target particular skills and behaviours. SafeCare Dad2K is designed specifically for fathers.

Promoting First Relationships: A ten-week program with a set curriculum, delivered by skilled clinicians.

Johns Hopkins Children and Youth Program: A set of parenting education topics, used by the home visitor with parents.

HeadStart: HeadStart programs deliver a parenting education curriculum, adapted in local contexts to contain slight differences.

Relief Nursery Program: The program includes group-based parent education.

Chicago Parent Program: Parenting education, based on the Incredible Years, is delivered face-to-face, with facilitated parent groups. Parents receive weekly homework assignments and handouts summarising important points from each session.

Family Support Program: The program provides parenting education in child development, health care, nutrition, and parent–child interaction activities. Written resources have been developed.

ParentCorps: The program includes core behavioural change strategies that are found in other parenting interventions (e.g., The Incredible Years, Triple P). The intervention curriculum aims to strengthen the following three key domains of parenting: positive behaviour support (e.g., reinforcement, proactive strategies), behaviour management (e.g., consistent consequences), and parent involvement in early learning (e.g., reading to children, communicating with teachers).

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Skills are taught via didactic presentations to parents and direct coaching of parents while they are interacting with their children.

Self-directed Triple P: The program comprises a parenting text and parent workbook, which cover 17 core child management strategies.

The Incredible Years Preschool BASIC Parenting Program Enhanced with Home Visits: One in a series of group-based programs for parents of children at different ages, which aim to teach parents positive disciplinary strategies (play, praise, and rewards). Each program has a structured treatment manual.

The Incredible Years Preschool BASIC Parenting Program Enhanced with Home Visits: One in a series of group-based programs for parents of children at different ages, which aim to teach parents positive disciplinary strategies (play, praise, and rewards). Each program has a structured treatment manual.

SEEK: Physicians receive laminated pocket cards with salient information, and a handbook with comprehensive practical information including local resources, and user-friendly parent handouts.

Parent Training Program: Curriculum material covers the use of more active listening skills, less harsh parenting practices, more praise and encouragement, and setting reasonable expectations in child rearing.

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancements in Primary Care: This is a trauma-informed group training program to teach caregivers techniques to support the social and emotional growth of children.

Group Attachment-based Intervention: The program is delivered in a multifamily setting with group activities and there is a program manual.

Further resources