Esther Coren

The effectiveness of individual and group-based parenting programmes in improving outcomes for teenage mothers and their children: a systematic review

There is evidence from a range of studies showing adverse child outcomes for the children of teenage parents. Parenting programmes are increasingly being used to promote the well-being of parents and children, and this review aims to establish whether they can improve outcomes for teenage parents and their children. The findings of the review are based on 14 studies that used varying study designs, and are therefore limited. The results suggest, however, that parenting programmes can be effective in improving a range of psychosocial and developmental outcomes for teenage mothers and their children. Further research is needed.

Parenting Training for Intellectually Disabled Parents: A Cochrane Systematic Review.

Objectives: This article presents a Cochrane/Campbell systematic review of the evidence on the effect of parent training to support the parenting of parents with intellectual disabilities. Method: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing parent training interventions for parents with intellectual disability with usual care or with a control group were included in the review. Outcomes: The attainment of parenting skills specific to the intervention, safe home practices, and the understanding of child health were the outcomes of interest. Results: Three trials met the inclusion criteria. All three indicated improved parenting skills following parenting training. Conclusions: The quality of the evidence is moderate to low, with limited information available to assess possible bias. The presented evidence seems promising; however, there is a need for larger RCTs of interventions before conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of parent training for this group of parents.

The Contribution of Social Work and Social Interventions Across the Life Course to the Reduction of Health Inequalities: A New Agenda for Social Work Education?

Inequalities in health and well-being are wide and widening and reflect the disadvantaged circumstances in which many people live. Users of personal social services in many cases already experience disadvantaged health and well-being. Social work has established experience of working with marginalised groups, and may play a role in promoting individual and community health and well-being. The value base for social work includes a focus on social justice, which may directly impact on the social determinants of health. Using four examples of social interventions across the life span, this paper considers the role that social work can play in improving the health and well-being of disadvantaged people across the life course, and the implications of this for evidence based social work practice and education.

The Effectiveness of Parenting Programs: A Review of Campbell Reviews.

Parenting practices predict important outcomes for children, and parenting programs are potentially effective means of supporting parents to promote optimal outcomes for children. This review summarizes findings of systematic reviews of parenting programs published in the Campbell Library. Six reviews evaluated the effectiveness of a range of parenting programs in the primary and secondary prevention of behavioral problems (children aged 0–3 years), treatment of early onset conduct disorder (children aged 3–12 years), and improving outcomes for parents and children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, outcomes for particular groups of parents and children (i.e., with intellectual disabilities and teenagers), and the psychosocial functioning of parents. The findings show that parenting programs are effective in improving the emotional and behavioral adjustment of children in addition to enhancing the psychosocial well-being of parents. They also suggest that further research is needed to assess their effectiveness for specific subgroups of parents in addition to their long-term effectiveness.

Social media and young people’s involvement in social work education

Abstract Whilst service-user involvement in social work education generally is increasing, young people’s involvement has, to date, been limited, and as such their voice is missing. Social media potentially offers mechanisms for addressing this, widening young people’s participation. This article presents the findings of research, conducted in partnership with young people, exploring different types of social media currently available that may have the potential to be used in social work education to provide young people with a voice. Using methods developed from systematic review processes, the research set out to find, synthesise and collate these different resources. The findings suggest social media could provide an appropriate mechanism for enabling young people to share experiences relevant to social care. However, whilst some resources do exist, there are fewer than expected. A need is identified to develop new sustainable ways of enabling young people to have a voice. Current approaches were found to replicate barriers associated with service provision being compartmentalised, service led and framed by eligibility criteria. Recommendations are made for a united response from social work education institutions supporting approaches that give ownership to young people themselves whilst promoting sustainability and continuity.

Commentary on 'interventions for promoting re-integration and reducing harmful behaviour and lifestyles in street-connected children and young people' with a response from the review authors.

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in the issue of EBCH, first published as: Coren E, Hossain R, Pardo Pardo J, Veras MMS, Chakraborty K, Harris H, Martin AJ. Interventions for promoting re-integration and reducing harmful behaviour and lifestyles in street-connected children and young people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD009823. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009823.pub2.

Evidence to support the needs of children and young people: upcoming reviews from the Cochrane Public Health Group

Belinda J. Burford1,2, Esther Coren3, Colleen Davison4, Sheila Thomas1,2, Jodie Doyle1,2, Rebecca Armstrong1,2, Elizabeth Waters1,2 Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne, Australia Cochrane Public Health Group, McCaughey Centre, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Health Wellbeing and Family/Research Centre for Children, Families and Communities, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU, UK Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada Address correspondence to Belinda J. Burford, E-mail: b.burford@unimelb.edu.au