Improving child behavior through parent training in child welfare services: A mixed-methods study of families receiving in-home services

Behavioral parent training programs, such as Pathways Triple P (Level 5 of the Triple P parent support and training system, hereafter referred to as Pathways), have been shown to improve child behavior. However, Pathways has not been tested with a child welfare services (CWS) population. A mixed-methods, randomized control trial was conducted to examine its effectiveness with CWS-involved families. The sample included parents investigated for maltreatment whose child remained in home following the investigation. Parents were randomized into treatment (n = 57) or services-as-usual (n = 62). Regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses: (1) Parents in the treatment condition demonstrated better parenting outcomes than parents in the services-as-usual condition; and (2) Children in the treatment condition demonstrated better child behavior outcomes than children in the usual-care condition. Qualitative findings further illuminated parents’ perceptions of change in themselves and their children. Families receiving Pathways did statistically significantly better than those in the services-as-usual condition on child behavior problems, parental anger, and parenting efficacy – although effect sizes were small. Qualitative findings strongly support the quantitative findings. Pathways is a promising intervention for CWS-involved families. Efforts should be made to increase accessibility of Pathways for these particularly vulnerable families.