Instructor: Meg Luce, MS, MFT Power Point Designer: Laurie Blakemore

1. Positive Parenting Program Annual Report FY 2012-13 for Nevada County Implementation and Results of Level 4 Group Triple P Families in Transformation Instructor: Meg Luce, MS, MFT Power Point Designer: Laurie Blakemore

2. Triple P Parenting Group Level 4 began in Western Nevada County in January 2011 as a part of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SSHS) federal initiative. Triple P classes were offered as one of the Partners Family Resource Centers core services. The evidence-based Triple P Parenting Program was selected as the curriculum of choice for its 25 years of demonstrated effectiveness in helping families utilize simple, yet powerful, parenting strategies. Two Triple-P-accredited providers were employed to implement the program and facilitate all classes. What Triple P Teaches The Triple P program is built around five core principals of positive parenting: 1. Ensuring a safe, interesting environment 2. Creating a positive learning environment 3. Using assertive discipline 4. Having realistic expectations 5. Taking care of yourself as a parent Triple P offers parenting information, strategies, and tips in four main areas: 1. Developing positive relationships 2. Encouraging desirable behavior 3. Teaching children new behaviors and skills 4. Managing misbehavior Triple P is for Every Parent and Family

3. A total of 9 Triple P classes were held throughout Western Nevada County in 2012-13 at the SSHS Partners Family Resource Centers and local schools as follows: Triple P classes were offered at no charge. The only cost to families was a materials fee of $25 for the Parent Workbook. Scholarships were available, allowing any parent to participate. Free childcare and a light meal was provided with every class. Two Triple-P-recommended assessment instruments (Parenting Scale and Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire) were selected to evaluate program effectiveness. These were administered on week one at the beginning of class and on week eight at the end of class. Results indicated significant improvements on all measures.

4. A total of 139 parents began Triple P classes. 86 parents completed both Pre- & Post-tests. 62% of the parents completed the classes.

5. The Parenting Scale (PS; Arnold, O’Leary, Wolff, & Acker, 1993, revised by Rhoades & O’Leary, 2007) TheParenting Scale is a 30-item measure of dysfunctional discipline styles in parents that asks about the probability with which the parent uses particular discipline strategies. Three styles have been identified: Laxness (permissive, inconsistent discipline); Over-reactivity (harsh, emotional authoritarian discipline and irritability); and Hostility (use of verbal or physical force). All 30 items are scored on a seven point scale, with lower scores indicating more effective parenting and higher scores indicating less effective parenting. The total score is the sum of all items divided by 30.

6. Graphs created separately for female & male parents due to different clinical cut-offs for Laxness, Over-Reactivity & Hostility Scores

9. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief, behavioral screening questionnaire that parents complete about their child. There are 25 questionsdivided between 5 scales: emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, and pro-social behavior. Each family (two-parent or single-parent) is asked to complete one questionnaire on one of their children, both pre and post test.

10. Parents complete the Impact supplementif the child exhibits problem behavior; this provides a score for the level of distress, social impairment, and burden to others that the problem behavior causes. This provides additional information about the child’s behavior and the stress that may be created in the family.

11. “The Parenting Ladder”, adapted by Metzler & Jones (2007), and in partnership with First 5 Nevada County, is an additional assessment given at the last class. There are 13 questions about the parent’s knowledge of child development, parenting, and community information and resources, confidence in handling challenges and ability to cope with stress. The parents are asked to think about where they are now and where they were then (before the class began) for each question. They are to circle a number 0 = Low to 6 = High as rungs on a ladder, corresponding to each question. The results above are the overall average of all the questions per class, as well as overall total of all classes. Higher scores “Now” indicate improvements.

12. The following are the questions asked on the “Parenting Ladder”: 1. Your knowledge of how children grow & develop. 8. The amount of helpful parenting information & support 2. Your confidence that you know what is right for your child. you get from others. 3. Your confidence in your ability to handle the day-to day 9. The amount of communication & problem solving with challenges of raising your child. your partner about issues related to your child. 4. Your ability to help your child learn. 10. Your satisfaction with your experience as a parent. 5. Your ability to cope with the stress in your life 11. Your consistency in telling your child what to do rather (self-care/ stress management). then what not to do. 6. The amount of positive or helpful interactions you have with 12. Your consistency in taking action to redirect your child’s other parents. behavior, when necessary. 7. Your awareness of community information & resources for 13. Your ability to stay calm but firm when your child parents. misbehaves.

13. Overcoming Barriers • We provided families with improved access to the Triple P program by expanding our geographical locations throughout Western Nevada County. This included three PARTNERS Family Resource Centers, regional schools, and a local church. • We offered need-based scholarships and a light meal with each class to allow any family to participate. • We made an extensive search for approved and experienced childcare providers to ensure free childcare for every class. We developed childcare guidelines, including Triple P strategies, to be followed by the caregivers. • Due to the small scale of Level 4 Group Triple P in Western Nevada County, we offered a flexible approach to better meet the needs of program participants. Parents who missed a limited number of sessions due to illness or family emergencies, were offered make-up sessions. This allowed a parent with an extenuating circumstance to continue to receive immediate help from the program rather than have to drop out or wait as much as 6 months for the program to return to their area. • We added another accredited Triple P practitioner to assist in facilitating classes and to provide community outreach. • We created a Facebook webpage for parents to receive information, support, Triple P tips and forms, and an opportunity for open discussion with other parents. • We increased class enrollments to serve more families through effective public relations, community networking, and word of mouth referrals given by attending parents. Western Nevada County • Planning for the Future • Improve the program completion rate by extended outreach to non-attending parents. • Reach more Latino families by contacting community leaders; Spanish speaking Triple P classes under consideration. • Increase our program visibility through local media outlets. • Explore creative funding to sustain the program when the SSHS grant monies end.

14. Family Successes “I’m more receptive to my daughter’s feelings. Excellent program, will recommend to other parents.” – Single (separated) dad of 7 yr. old “Both teachers were patient and knowledgeable in their presentation of the course.” – Parents of 3 yr. old “Very helpful, especially the personal telephone sessions.” – Single mom of 6 yr. old “Thank you for the great program – a great amount of knowledge (plus food & childcare) at an amazing price. Pretty good for a struggling economy – I feel lucky!” - Married mother of 7 yr. old with Asperger’s “I am impressed with the usefulness of this class. I enrolled for legal reasons not expecting to learn anything. This class has been a huge success for my daughter and I. – Single father of 4 yr. old “My relationship with my child has greatly improved. I’ve learned so much. … Our household is so much calmer and healthier. I have noticed a positive improvement in my son as well as in myself.” – Mother of 8 yr. old “The attention and information exceeded our expectations.” – Parents of 10 yr. old. “Using logical consequences-I’m impressed with myself; it’s working!” – Widowed parent of 7 yr. old “I observed a new willingness from the parents to problem-solve with school personnel about their child’s challenging behavior.” – School principal