|
Parenting Wisely (PW) is an interactive CD-ROM program designed for families at risk with
children from early elementary to high school age. Video programs which overcome
illiteracy barriers meet the needs of families who don't usually attend or finish parenting
education. PW is based on social learning theory, family systems theory, and cognitive
theory. PW seeks to help families enhance relationships and decrease conflict through
behavior management and support. It enhances child adjustment and potentially reduces
delinquency, substance abuse and involvement with juvenile justice system. In addition, PW
builds parental confidence in parenting skills. It seeks to improve communication, problem
solving and parent-school communication while improving school attendance and grades and
reducing disciplinary infractions.
Through a self-administered, self-paced CD-ROM program, parents view video scenes of
common family problems. For each problem parents choose a solution and see it enacted
and listen to a critique. The video program covers communication skills, problem solving
skills, speaking respectfully, assertive discipline, reinforcement, chore compliance, homework
compliance, supervising children hanging out with peers who are a bad influence, step-family
problems, single parents issues, violence, and others. The program is designed to be used by
parents totally unfamiliar with computers as well as those with experience. The program
takes only one to two sessions lasting approximately three hours. Parents prefer using the
program with their teens and pre-teens. Used as a family intervention, parents and children
converse enthusiastically and learn the same skills together.
Eight controlled evaluations of PW have been conducted: In the first and second evaluations
the parents improved knowledge of parenting principles and use of appropriate parenting
skills, and child behavior problems decreased. Almost half of the teens who scored in the
clinically deviant range of the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory had moved into the functional
(normal) range of child behavior. Evaluation number three showed even greater changes as
found in the first two studies. Problem behaviors had dropped to half of the previous rate
one, three, and six months after the parents used the program. A control group showed no
changes. The fourth evaluation with teen parents showed significant improvements in
parenting knowledge and application of principles to dealing effectively with toddlers (none
for control groups). In evaluation five, parents of problem middle school students reported
60% fewer problem behaviors four months after using the program (no changes for control
groups). The sixth study evaluated the program delivered via a laptop computer in the
homes of severely disadvantaged families. The parents and their 4th to 6th graders reported
improved family relationships and lower family risk factors for delinquency and substance
abuse relative to a comparison group reading parenting brochures. Evaluation seven reports
more improvements in child behavior when the program was used in groups vs. individually.
In the eighth evaluation, high school students who received either the CD-ROM in group
format or the usual parent education classes found improvements only for the CD-ROM group.
Other evaluations in the U.S. and Ireland, England, and Canada have replicated these results.
|
 |
Implementation Costs:
One staff member can deliver the program, which simply entails turning on the computer,
booting the CD-ROM, and showing the parent(s) and child how to move the mouse cursor
on the screen. This procedure takes approximately two minutes and requires no skill,
credentials, or training on the part of the staff member. Monitoring by the program
developer is not necessary, but free telephone consultation is provided if needed. A
substantial discount for educational institutions is available. If the program is to be delivered
in the home to high risk families who resist going to a community location housing the
program, a staff member would need to transport the laptop computer containing the CD-ROM
to and from the home. If families have questions about how to solve problems not
depicted on the program, an experienced parent educator or family therapist can offer brief
suggestions about applying appropriate parenting skills depicted in the PW program to those
problems.
Parent workbooks (100 pages) are required, one per family. These need to be ordered
from the developer, and cost from $9 to $5.75 depending on the quantity. The program is
delivered on a CD-Rom, which must be purchased for $599. The CD-ROM comes with a
kit which includes a manual for community implementation, five parent workbooks, program
completion certificates, program brochures, referral cards, and a floppy disk containing
evaluation forms. The program is also available in an abbreviated and non-interactive form
on a set of three videotapes which can be used as a booster for in-home use after the family
has used the CD-ROM. The videotape set is $199 for purchasers of the CD-ROM, and
$299 for others.
No expendable supplies are required, but incentives to get parents to use the program often
help. These can be fast food coupons, movie tickets, gift certificates, etc. Replacement
supplies for those included with the program kit are available and include program
completion certificates, referral cards, and program brochures. These items may also be
photocopied (with the exception of the parent workbook). For voluntary parental
participation, the developer recommends transportation and child care for the most resistant
and highest risk families. Home-based program delivery is recommended. There are no
required licensing fees. For multiple computer sites, multiple copies of the CD-ROM must
be purchased, and are available at a discount.
Training Costs:
Training for agency staff is optional, since the CD-ROM begins with a tutorial in its use.
Low income and even illiterate parents have used the program without assistance. One day
training is available for staff in dissemination of the program in communities. Included topics
are: strategies for motivating parents of different risk levels to use the program; methods for
improving interagency cooperation; integration of CD-ROM programs with existing family
services; financing ongoing costs; evaluation of program impact; add-on procedures to
extend treatment effects. Contact the developer for training costs.
|
