Marie-Josée Letarte

Moderating Role of the Form of Maltreatment Experienced by Children on the Effectiveness of a Parent Training Program

The study examines whether the form of maltreatment experienced by the child moderates the effects of a parent training program (PTP) on the probability that the child’s case will be closed. This study involved 736 children on whom the Montreal child protective services (CPS) agency had an active file between 2007 and 2015. The experimental group was composed of all children with a parent who participated in the PTP Incredible Years (n = 368). A control group was matched with the experimental group based on a propensity score. Cox regression revealed that once parents have participated in the PTP, the probability that their children’s cases will be closed increases more for children being followed because of neglect than for those being followed because of emotional maltreatment. Results show that a parent’s participating in a PTP is associated with an increase of the probability that his or her child’s CPS case will be closed and hence with a reduction of the length of time that the child must receive protective services.

Common components of evidence-based parenting programs for preventing maltreatment of school-age children

Child maltreatment can lead to a variety of negative outcomes in childhood including physical and mental health problems that can extend into adulthood. Given the transactional nature of child maltreatment and the difficulties that many maltreating families experience, child protection services typically offer various kinds of programs to maltreated children, their parents, and/or their families. Although the specific difficulties experienced by these families may vary, sub-optimal parenting practices are typically part of the picture and may play a central role in maltreated childrens development. Hence, to deal with child maltreatment, programs that focus on parenting practices are essential, and identifying the common components of effective programs is of critical importance. The objectives of the present study were to: 1) describe the components of evidence-based parenting programs aimed at parents who have maltreated their elementary school-aged children or are at-risk for doing so and 2) identify the components that are common to these programs, using the approach proposed by Barth and Liggett-Creel (2014). Fourteen evidence-based parenting programs aimed at parents who had maltreated their elementary school-aged children (ages 6-12) or were at-risk for doing so were identified using both a review of relevant online databases of evidence-based programs (California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development, Youth.gov, and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices). Common components were identified (operationalized as components present in two thirds of programs) and discussed. The identification of common components of evidence-based programs may help clinicians choose the best intervention methods.

Effect of Male and Female Early Childhood Education Teacher’s Educational Practices on Children’s Social Adaptation

ABSTRACT It is believed children stand to benefit from a greater male teacher presence in early childhood education (ECE) where, internationally, the vast majority of ECE teachers are female. This study (N = 180) examines the relationship between children’s social adaptation and the educational practices of 53 ECE teachers, 23 (44%) of which were male. Third-party observers assessed practices using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) in the natural classroom setting. Parents evaluated social adaptation using the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation. Observational data reveal no intersex differences in educational practices. Multilevel model analyses show that children in ECE centers with male and female teachers exhibit less internalized behavior compared with those in centers with female teachers only. A relationship is observed between good classroom organization and instructional support, respectively, and improved children’s social adaptation, regardless of teacher gender. The authors discuss the potential impact of the results on future educational interventions.