Parenting Program for Improved Parenting Skills

(REC Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Deborah Gross, DNSc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University

Disqualifiers: Previous CPP participation, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

840 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a parenting program to determine if it improves parenting skills and school outcomes for 4-year-olds in Maryland's public prekindergarten. It includes two groups: one will use the Chicago Parent Program (CPP), while the other will continue with usual school practices. Parents, teachers, and school staff in Title 1 schools or high-need communities can participate if they haven't used CPP before and agree to the study's requirements. This offers parents and educators a chance to engage in a program aimed at enhancing children's early learning experiences. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to valuable research that could improve educational strategies for young children.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Chicago Parent Program is safe for improving parenting skills?

Research has shown that the Chicago Parent Program (CPP) is a well-researched method for helping parents improve their skills. Studies have found that it effectively boosts parenting abilities and increases parents' confidence. Parents who participated in the program reported feeling more capable and consistent in their parenting.

The program enhances parenting skills without physical treatments, eliminating medical risks. It focuses on reducing physical punishment and improving children's behavior and social skills. Parents who attended at least half of the sessions noticed significant improvements, indicating it is both safe and helpful.

Overall, the Chicago Parent Program is well-received, with no reports of negative effects. Participants generally experience positive results, making it a safe choice for parents seeking to improve their parenting skills. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Chicago Parent Program (CPP) because it offers a structured approach to improving parenting skills, which is different from the usual practices in schools. Unlike typical programs that may lack a consistent framework or focus mainly on academic support, CPP uses a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum designed specifically to enhance parenting techniques and parent-child interactions. This program is delivered directly in schools, making it more accessible for parents and providing a supportive community environment. By potentially fostering better parenting skills, CPP aims to improve overall family dynamics and child outcomes, which could lead to long-term benefits for both children and their parents.

What evidence suggests that the Chicago Parent Program is effective for improving parenting skills?

Research has shown that the Chicago Parent Program (CPP), which participants in this trial may receive, helps parents improve their skills and parenting outcomes. Parents who participated in CPP felt more confident in their parenting and used less physical punishment, opting for more consistent discipline methods instead. Studies have found that these changes lead to better behavior in children and improved family wellbeing. The program also helps parents build social connections, further supporting positive parenting. Overall, CPP offers a cost-effective way to enhance parenting and prepare young children for school. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Deborah Gross, DNSc

Principal Investigator

JHU School Of Nursing

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents of 4-year-old children enrolled in public prekindergarten programs in Maryland. It aims to improve parenting skills and school outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria

Consents to completing study surveys

Completes CPP group leader training

At least a High School diploma/General Equivalency Diploma (GED)

Exclusion Criteria

School located in a geographic area with 80% connectivity

School previously offered CPP

Principal, teacher, or other school-based staff is a study parent

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

The Chicago Parent Program (CPP) is implemented in groups of 10-15 parents of PreK students, either virtually or in-person, over 12 sessions.

12 weeks

12 sessions (in-person or virtual)

Post-Intervention Evaluation

Evaluation of study outcomes including children's social-emotional-behavioral competence, parent engagement, and parenting skills at multiple time points.

4-5 months

Multiple assessments (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term outcomes such as kindergarten readiness and retention.

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Chicago Parent Program (CPP)

Trial Overview The study tests the Chicago Parent Program (CPP), a program designed to enhance parenting abilities, and observes its effectiveness within public PreK settings.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Title 1 schools receive the Chicago Parent Program intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The experimental group from Title 1 or Community Schools across two Maryland school districts (Baltimore City Public Schools and Cecil County Public Schools) will receive the Chicago Parent Program intervention.

Group II: Title 1 schools receive the usual school practice Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group from Title 1 or Community Schools across two Maryland school districts (Baltimore City Public Schools and Cecil County Public Schools) will receive the usual school practice.

Chicago Parent Program (CPP) is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Chicago Parent Program for:

• Parenting skills improvement for caregivers of young children aged 2-8 years old

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Johns Hopkins University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,366

Recruited

15,160,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Parent programming, which includes direct services to help parents manage their family life and develop necessary skills, is essential for enhancing parental competence.

Competency-based programming has shown promise in improving parent skills, with initial studies focusing on identifying and assessing parental competencies to inform effective instructional methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Involving parents in special programming. Turner, RM., Macy, DJ.[2019]

The parent education program at the San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic effectively increased participants' knowledge about alternatives to physical punishment and normal child development, based on assessments from 40 parents who completed pre- and posttests.

Over 200 parents engaged with the program, which utilized a videotape series to facilitate group discussions, leading to positive changes in attitudes towards children's misbehavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A videotape parent education program for abusive parents. Golub, JS., Espinosa, M., Damon, L., et al.[2019]

This randomized trial compares the effectiveness of two parent training programs, the Chicago Parent Program (CPP) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), involving 262 parents of children aged 2 to 5 from low-income, predominantly African-American backgrounds.

The study aims to determine if CPP, designed specifically for underserved populations, can effectively reduce child behavior problems and improve parenting, potentially offering a cost-effective alternative to the established PCIT program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol for a comparative effectiveness trial of two parent training programs in a fee-for-service mental health clinic: can we improve mental health services to low-income families? Gross, DA., Belcher, HM., Ofonedu, ME., et al.[2021]

The Regional Partnership Grant (RPG) program significantly reduced trauma and depressive symptoms in adult caregivers, with effect sizes of -0.25 for both outcomes, indicating improved mental health among participants.

Children enrolled in the RPG program showed reduced behavior problems and executive functioning deficits, with effect sizes of -0.31, suggesting positive impacts on child well-being, although no significant changes were observed in child safety and permanency outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of the Regional Partnership Grant program on adult recovery and well-being, and child safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes. Cole, R., Burnett, A., Strong, D.[2021]

The paper by Ward et al. highlights the development of a new program aimed at parents of children at high risk for behavioral problems in a deprived South African township, indicating a focus on early intervention in challenging environments.

It raises important questions about the necessity of creating new programs when effective ones already exist, suggesting a need for collaboration among program developers to identify the most effective strategies for different populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Commentary: Do we need new parenting programmes for different cultural groups or should we adapt those that already exist: a commentary on Ward et al. (2019). Thompson, M., Thompson, C.[2021]

The ezParent program, a tablet-based adaptation of a parent training program, was used by 59 parents of young children in low-income areas, revealing that those who completed more modules experienced greater benefits from the program.

Parents who faced barriers to completing the modules were less likely to report benefits, indicating that understanding user experiences can help improve the design and effectiveness of digital parenting interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low-Income Parents' Perceptions of and Engagement With a Digital Behavioral Parent Training Program: A Mixed-Methods Study. Brager, J., Breitenstein, SM., Miller, H., et al.[2021]

In a pilot study involving 21 program directors and 25 practitioners from 19 agencies, it was found that 37.1% of the parent training programs were developed by the agencies themselves, while the majority were adaptations of existing interventions.

Only a few of the identified parent programs had strong empirical support, but many incorporated key features commonly associated with effective, evidence-based parenting programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The State of Parent Training: Program Offerings and Empirical Support. Kohl, PL., Schurer, J., Bellamy, JL.[2019]

The Incredible Years parenting program, studied in 1,799 participants across 14 trials, effectively improves parenting practices and reduces children's conduct problems and ADHD symptoms, with no evidence of harmful effects.

While the program enhances certain family dynamics, it does not significantly improve children's emotional problems or parental mental health, indicating its benefits are somewhat limited to specific areas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Research Review: Harnessing the power of individual participant data in a meta-analysis of the benefits and harms of the Incredible Years parenting program. Leijten, P., Gardner, F., Landau, S., et al.[2021]

The Parent-to-Parent program is a home-based initiative that provides long-term support to adolescent parents through trained volunteers, aiming to improve parent-child interactions and help parents access necessary services.

The program also focuses on increasing community involvement and empowering parents to plan for their futures, addressing the broader developmental needs often overlooked in traditional prenatal and neonatal care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community support for adolescent parents and their children: The parent-to-parent program in Vermont. Halpern, R., Covey, L.[2021]

The ezParent program, a tablet-based adaptation of the Chicago Parent Program, achieved an impressive module completion rate of 85.4%, significantly higher than the 50.6% attendance rate of the traditional face-to-face program, indicating it is a more accessible option for busy parents.

Parents using the ezParent program reported high satisfaction, with 88% finding it very helpful, and showed significant improvements in parenting warmth, suggesting that this digital approach can effectively enhance parenting skills in low-income, ethnic minority families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Use and Efficacy of a Self-Administered, Tablet-Based Parent Training Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Breitenstein, SM., Fogg, L., Ocampo, EV., et al.[2018]

The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is designed as a public health approach to improve parenting skills, aiming to enhance children's mental health and family relationships on a large scale.

This program combines universal and targeted interventions to effectively reach a broader population, particularly benefiting high-risk families and reducing behavioral and emotional issues in children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Correction to sanders (2008). [2015]

The Parent and Child Enhancement (PACE) program showed sustained effectiveness over 18 months, with participants maintaining improvements in children's learning and behavior, as well as in parenting skills.

Out of 149 participants, only 44 from the intervention group and 11 from the control group provided complete data, indicating that the PACE program may have long-term benefits compared to no significant changes in the control group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

18-month follow-up of randomized controlled trial of parent and child enhancement program. Leung, C., Tsang, S., Chan, LY.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3442153/

The Chicago Parent Program: Comparing 1-Year Outcomes ... Specifically, parents who attended at least 50% of the CPP sessions reported greater improvements in parenting self-efficacy, more consistency ...

2. cebc4cw.org cebc4cw.org/program/chicago-parent-program/detailed

CEBC » Chicago Parent Program › Program › Detailed Results indicate that compared to controls, CPP parents had improved self-efficacy, used less corporal punishment and more consistent discipline, and ...

3. ojp.gov ojp.gov/library/publications/chicago-parent-program-comparing-1-year-outcomes-african-american-and-latino

The Chicago Parent Program: Comparing 1-Year ... The authors analyze the data from one-year outcomes of the Chicago Parenting Program, to determine its impacts on participants' parenting skills ...

4. chicagoparentprogram.org chicagoparentprogram.org/research

Research Improved child behavior. Cost-effective relative to other parenting programs. Reduced reliance on corporal punishment.

5. chicagoparentprogram.org chicagoparentprogram.org/

Chicago Parent Program The 12-session program strengthens parenting skills and confidence, supports young children's behavioral health and wellbeing, and builds social connections ...

6. tqee.org tqee.org/strategy/chicago-parent-program-cpp/

Chicago Parent Program (CPP) The Chicago Parent Program reduces parents' use of physical punishment, increases parenting confidence, strengthens parent-to-parent connections, and increases ...