Parenting programs in the Australian context

This is a technical paper with 102 pages but worth the read for parents.

This paper on Early intervention strategies for children and young people 8 to 14 years by Lucy Tully has a list of parenting programs that can be explored to assist in parenting and ensuring your kids will get the appropriate care and support.

If you have been trying to look for parental programs then page 7 of this paper includes the evaluation of three parental programs in Australia namely.

• Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
• Parenting Adolescents: A Creative Experience (PACE)
• Parenting Between Cultures Program

Quoting the last three paragraphs of the conclusions

Targeted parenting programs have been found to show positive short-term benefits for families with multiple risks, parents with depression, divorced parents and parents of children and young people with externalising problem behaviours. There is evidence that both group and individual programs are effective in improving a range of child, parent and family outcomes. Programs based on a behavioural approach have been found to be effective, although few studies have evaluated programs based on other approaches.

For child-focussed and multi-component programs, the evidence indicated that universal and targeted programs that are skills based were effective in preventing violence, and universal programs that are interactive were effective in preventing substance use. Skills based programs also appeared to be effective in increasing knowledge and skills associated with child sexual abuse, although it is not known whether these programs also impact on behaviour. Multi-component health promotion interventions that target school connectedness were effective in improving a range of outcomes. While there is some support for programs to prevent depression, bullying and drop out, the evidence was mixed. Cognitive behavioural approaches to prevent anxiety appear promising, although further research is needed.

The evidence suggests that interventions that involve home-school collaboration are effective in managing school-related problems. However, there is mixed evidence to support the effectiveness of extracurricular activities, after-school programs and mentoring programs as a strategy for high risk children and young people. There is presently a lack of research on community programs, health promoting schools initiatives and school suspension and expulsion, although one study indicated that suspension may increase antisocial behaviours.