Engagement and attendance to a parent training program in youth protection services: An analysis of predictors and links to outcomes

Purpose Incredible Years (Webster-Stratton, 1998) is a well-known parent-training program (PTP). Our research shows that its implementation in youth protection services is associated with positive results for parents and... [ view full abstract ]

Purpose
Incredible Years (Webster-Stratton, 1998) is a well-known parent-training program (PTP). Our research shows that its implementation in youth protection services is associated with positive results for parents and children compared to a waiting list (Letarte et al., 2010). However, participation (attendance and engagement) is often problematic. Participation in PTP is critical if the outcomes are to be reached. In a youth protection context, engaging clients in group programs is challenging for many reasons (Webster-Stratton, & Reid, 2005). This study aims to contribute to the improvement of practices by analysing the predictors of attendance and engagement of parents involved in a PTP in youth protection services and their links to outcomes.
Method
Parents followed by child protection services took part in "Incredible Years" which lasts 16-weeks. Facilitators (n=14) and parents (n=67) completed questionnaires in order to report on their own personal characteristics and to monitor attendance (presence vs absence) and engagement (e.g. attention to videos; support to others; participation in group discussion; personal disclosure). Outcomes considered are parenting practices (Parenting practices interview; Webster-Stratton, 1998) and parent-child relationship (Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire ; Rohner, 1991). They were evaluated pre and post program.
Results
Descriptive statistics showed that 57% of participants dropped out of the study by the post test. Mean attendance to the program is 75%. Engagement in meeting is relatively high, varying from 56% (support to other parents) to 97% (attention to the videos). Linear regressions are used to analyse if parents’ and leaders’ characteristics predict participation. Linear regressions also analyse if participation predicts parents’ outcomes.
Conclusion
The conclusion will discuss what leaders can do in order to promote attendance and engagement of parents in a PTP. We will talk about what have been done within this study and present a reflection of what could be done based on the results.