An education program aimed at supporting effective parenting and connections with the community.
The Evidence Summaries presented on this site were drawn from the best available evidence of the program’s effectiveness from this review. It does not necessarily reflect all the evidence about the program. The research was selected and assessed for inclusion on the Menu and towards the evidence rating because it met selection criteria related to the specific topic area, study design, quality assessment and the outcomes of interest.
Overview
Evidence Rating
Pathway
- Early help
- Targeted and specialist
Australian Study
Risk of Bias
Cost
Target Age Group
About
Community Outreach through Parent Empowerment (COPE) is an education program aimed at improving parenting skills, competencies and functioning for vulnerable families. There are 3 target area modules:
- Parent as Change Agent for Self
- Parent as Change Agent for Child
- Parent as Change Agent for Community.
The goal of the included study in this review tested the effectiveness of a training module prepared or the targeted population concentrated on Parent as Change Agent for Self. This training module was based on a curriculum designed with parent leaders and university researchers in Head Start. The goals of this module were to increase parents’ awareness of stressful events impeding parental functioning and of the benefits of establishing parental support networks.
Aims
- Improve parental functioning
- Provide awareness of benefits of parental support networks and help parents capitalise on Head Start to build those support networks.
Impact
Evidence suggests that the COPE program was effective in improving parents' mental health/functioning and their social support. Parents who underwent the program reported less parental stress and isolation.
| Outcome domain | Outcome measured | Positive effect | No effect | Negative effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent/caregiver | Mental health/functioning | Yes | Not found | Not found |
| Parent/caregiver | Social support | Yes | Not found | Not found |
How to read the table:
When ‘Yes’ is indicated for one of the three directions of effect, this means there is evidence of ‘positive’, ‘no effect’ or ‘negative effect’. Evidence is mixed and inconclusive when ‘Yes’ is indicated for two or more directions of effect. Further information about direction of effect can be found on the Using the Menu page.
COPE has an evidence rating of Supported.
This means that COPE has evidence from one randomised controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experiment (QE) demonstrating positive, short-term impacts on at least one child and family outcome.
This assessment is based on one research output of RCT design. COPE has not received a Well-supported rating as it has not yet replicated its results in another RCT or QE with a different population or setting.
| Study design | Number of research outputs included |
|---|---|
| Systematic review with meta-analysis | Not identified or included |
| Randomised controlled trial | 1 |
| Quasi-experiment | Not identified or included |
The evidence has some concerns with risk of bias.
We can be confident about the results and quality of the evidence from the included study.
The study was conducted in the United States and does not include Aboriginal children and families.
Aboriginal knowledge and evidence is critical to recognise, document and share practices that lead to improved outcomes for Aboriginal children and families. The department is consulting with the Aboriginal community and stakeholders on how Aboriginal knowledge and evidence is defined and included on the Menu.
Location
- The study was conducted in the United States.
Sample characteristics
- 116 parents (22 intervention one, 39 intervention 2, 18 control one, 37 control 2) participated in the study.
- Parents were participating in Head Start and rated as ‘low’ in the adult social interaction in activities rated by teachers.
- All participants identified as African American.
Implementation
Delivery model, mode and setting
- COPE is delivered in-person, to a group of parents in a community setting.
Target cohort
- Parents participating in Head Start.
Program delivery
- There are 3 target area modules:
- Parent as Change Agent for Self
- Parent as Change Agent for Child
- Parent as Change Agent for Community.
- The implementation of the ‘Parent as Change Agent for Self’ module takes place over 10 sessions. Topics include relationships with families and friends, race, poverty, gender issues, social isolation, stress, physical health and emotional wellbeing.
- Parents are encouraged to identify personal strengths, weaknesses, stressors, coping mechanisms, goals and barriers to goal attainment.
Manuals and guides
- We were unable to locate any manuals or guides to implement COPE
We were unable to locate any information on staff and training requirements.
To our knowledge, COPE is not available and has not been implemented in Australia.
Cost
We were unable to locate any information on the cost of COPE.
References
Studies identified and included in the review
- Fantuzzo J, Stevenson H, Kabir SA & Perry MA (2007). An investigation of a community-based intervention for socially isolated parents with a history of child maltreatment. Journal of Family Violence, 22(2):81-89.
Studies identified and included in the review
- Fantuzzo J, Stevenson H, Kabir SA & Perry MA (2007). An investigation of a community-based intervention for socially isolated parents with a history of child maltreatment. Journal of Family Violence, 22(2):81-89.
Studies identified but not counted towards the evidence rating due to study quality
- No studies that were identified were excluded due to study quality.