February 2010 Researching the Incredible Years Toddler Parenting Programme in Wales Nia Griffith Bangor University Supervised by Professor Judy Hutchings.

February 2010February 2010

Researching the Incredible Years Toddler Parenting Programme in

Wales

Researching the Incredible Years Toddler Parenting Programme in

Wales

Nia GriffithBangor University

Supervised by Professor Judy Hutchings and Dr Dave Daley

Nia GriffithBangor University

Supervised by Professor Judy Hutchings and Dr Dave Daley

Poverty in WalesPoverty in Wales

• 200, 000 children in Wales living in poverty

• Defined as ‘living in poverty’ if weekly income after housing costs falls below 60% of the median income for families of this type (WAG, 2010)

• 200, 000 children in Wales living in poverty

• Defined as ‘living in poverty’ if weekly income after housing costs falls below 60% of the median income for families of this type (WAG, 2010)

Negative Outcomes..Negative Outcomes..

• Poor physical health• Poor mental health• Delayed child development• Abuse• Behavioural and emotional difficulties

• Poor academic achievement• Poor employment prospects• Adolescent and adult delinquency

• Poor physical health• Poor mental health• Delayed child development• Abuse• Behavioural and emotional difficulties

• Poor academic achievement• Poor employment prospects• Adolescent and adult delinquency

Flying StartFlying Start

Flying start initiative aims to fund high quality services for children aged

0-3 years in disadvantaged areas in Wales

Estimated 25, 000 children aged 0-3 living within FS catchment areas

Families targeted by area of residence, with investment of £2, 000 per child in the form of:

• Extra health visitor visits• Free childcare• Basic skills• Parenting courses

Flying start initiative aims to fund high quality services for children aged

0-3 years in disadvantaged areas in Wales

Estimated 25, 000 children aged 0-3 living within FS catchment areas

Families targeted by area of residence, with investment of £2, 000 per child in the form of:

• Extra health visitor visits• Free childcare• Basic skills• Parenting courses

The EvaluationThe EvaluationTwo types of Partners• Main Randomised Controlled Trial

• Pre and Post-Intervention Measures Groups

Participants• Parents of children aged between 12 and 36 months• Families living in Flying Start areas

Recruitment• Families recruited by group leaders in each area

Randomisation• Random allocation by NWORTH (North Wales Organization for Randomised

Trials in Health)• Allocated on 2:1 Ratio Intervention: Waiting list control• Stratified for age and sex• Control families wait 6 months for Intervention

RCT Research locationsRCT Research locationsNorth Wales Sites

•Blaenau Ffestiniog

•Caernarfon (Maesincla)

•Bangor (Maesgeirchen)

•Holyhead

Mid Wales Sites

•Welshpool

South Wales Sites

•Rhondda Cynon Taf (Porth)

•Blaenau Gwent (Llanhilleth)

•Neath (Britton Ferry)

MeasuresMeasures•Developmental Measures

•Measure of Home Environment

•Parent Measures

•Direct Observation

Sample CharacteristicsSample Characteristics

•89 families

•Parent age at Baseline (M= 29.97, SD= 6.72) range 16-48 years.

•24% Welsh first language.

•54% <20 Years at birth of 1st child.

Sample Characteristics cont.

Sample Characteristics cont.

•53% living in council/housing association houses.

•20% had concerns about their child’s development

•26% reported having felt low/helpless or depressed at some point since the birth of their child

•15% had an immediate family member with a drugs/alcohol problem,

•14% had an immediate family member who had been involved in some form of criminal activity.

•36% left school without any qualifications

Comparison of FS and National AverageComparison of FS and National Average

Characteristic Flying Start Sample (103 dyads)

Social Trends 2007*

Lone Parent Families 31% 24%

Age of parent at birth of 1st Child

22.1 years 27.3 years

Living below recognised poverty indicator WAG (2010)

53% Actual

16% Probable

17%

Information sourced from:Social Trends No.37 (2007). London: Office for National Statistics

Positive Impacts of Flying Start

Positive Impacts of Flying Start

Measure Baseline Score

6-month FU Score

Significance Level

SOGS DQ 96.98 101.82 P < .05

BDI II 10.82 7.93 P < .05

WEMWBS 47.85 49.93 P < .05

PSI-SF 76.01 68.61 P < .05

IT-HOME 34.77 37.37 P < .05

Significant improvements on main outcome measures for families living in FS area over 6-month period.

Main MeasuresMain Measures

Added benefits of IY Toddler Parenting

Programme for Intervention Families living in Flying Start

areas?

Added benefits of IY Toddler Parenting

Programme for Intervention Families living in Flying Start

areas?

Differences between the Basic and the Toddler Parenting programme.

Differences between the Basic and the Toddler Parenting programme.

• Similarities• Same principals• Collaborative learning Process• Brain storming/role-play/home activities• Focus on coaching • Group structure

• Differences• Removal of ‘consequences’• Addition of more age appropriate sessions• Developmental checklists

• Similarities• Same principals• Collaborative learning Process• Brain storming/role-play/home activities• Focus on coaching • Group structure

• Differences• Removal of ‘consequences’• Addition of more age appropriate sessions• Developmental checklists

SHORT TERM DATASHORT TERM DATA

Preliminary Analysis WEMWBSPreliminary Analysis WEMWBS

Significant improvement demonstrated in parent report mental well-being at 6 month follow-up, measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (NHS Health Scotland, 2006).

No significant changes were observed for the control group

Significant improvement demonstrated in parent report mental well-being at 6 month follow-up, measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (NHS Health Scotland, 2006).

No significant changes were observed for the control group

Preliminary Analysis of DPICS

Preliminary Analysis of DPICS

Significant improvement in observed critical parenting statements directed towards the target child at 6 month follow-up, measured by DPICS (Eyberg & Robinson, 2000). No significant changes were observed for the control group.

Preliminary Analysis of DPICS

Preliminary Analysis of DPICS

Significant improvement in observed physical negatives directed towards the target child at 6 month follow-up, measured by DPICS (Eyberg & Robinson, 2000). No significant changes were observed for the control group.

LONG TERM DATALONG TERM DATA

Further Analysis of PSI

Further Analysis of PSI

No significant improvements for the Intervention group at 6-months. No significant changes were observed for this group at 12-months either.

Further Analysis of BDI

Further Analysis of BDI

No significant improvements for the Intervention group at 6-months. A significant reduction in total BDI for intervention families at 12-months.

Further Analysis of IT HOME

Further Analysis of IT HOME

No significant improvements for the Intervention group at 6-months. A significant improvement in total HOME score for intervention families at 12-months.

Further Analysis of SOGS DQ

Further Analysis of SOGS DQ

No significant improvements for the Intervention group at 6-months. A significant improvement in DQ for intervention families at 12-months.

ConclusionsConclusions

• Significant benefits of FS in general

• Added benefits of attending the IY Toddler programme for negative parenting and parent mental wellbeing

• Continued long-term improvements for intervention families

• Significant benefits of FS in general

• Added benefits of attending the IY Toddler programme for negative parenting and parent mental wellbeing

• Continued long-term improvements for intervention families

Thank you for listening!

Diolch am wrando!

Thank you for listening!

Diolch am wrando!