Share the Parenting Program
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
- Supported
Outcome domain
- System
Target groups
- 13-17 years
Evidence base
- International evidence
Risk of bias
- Some concerns
Cost information
- No cost information available
About
Share the Parenting Program (STPP) provides direct assistance to children at risk and to their families. The program provides recreational and social activities, life skills training, scheduled times for completion of school assignments and academic studies, and individual and group counselling sessions with a focus on finding solutions to the specific problems for adolescents and their families.
Impact
The evidence for out-of-home care was mixed. Evidence suggest that the program was effective for adolescents identified as higher risk, with lesser out-of-home days recorded and fewer adolescents removed from their parental home and placed in residential care but results for participants in the lower-risk group was negative.
| Outcome domain | Outcome measured | Positive effect | No effect | Negative effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System | Out-of-home care | Yes | Not found | Yes |
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.
STPP has an evidence rating of Supported.
This means that STPP has evidence from one randomised controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experiment (QE) demonstrating positive, short-term impact on at least one child and family outcome.
This assessment is based on one research output of QE design. STPP 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 | Not identified or included |
| Quasi-experiment | 1 |
The evidence has some concerns with risk of bias.
The QE in this review was identified with serious risk of bias. This means the quality of evidence is low and results should be considered with caution.
The study was conducted in Canada 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 Canada.
Sample characteristics
- 146 (84 intervention, 62 control) adolescents participated in the program.
- The adolescents were aged 11 to 15.
- Participants were adolescents at risk of residential placements, in active, non-residential service with the Ottawa-Carleton Children’s Aid Society.
- The program was located in a rented row house in a mixed socioeconomic neighbourhood.
Implementation
Delivery model, mode and setting
- STPP is delivered in-person, individually or in a group format, in the community setting.
Target cohort
- Children at risk and their families.
Program delivery
- Services are provided after school and through the early evening so that family members in conflict are provided some relief from interaction.
- Counselling by STPP staff is also available to parents on individual and group basis over and above the regular casework services of the agency.
- The major program components for the adolescents include recreational and social activities, life skills training, scheduled times for completion of school assignments and academic studies, and individual and group counselling sessions with a focus on finding solutions to the specific problems of participants.
Manuals and guides
- We were unable to locate any manuals or guides to implement STPP.
We were unable to locate any information on staff and training requirement.
To our knowledge, STPP is not available and has not been implemented in Australia.
Cost
We were unable to locate any information on the cost of STPP.
References
Studies identified and included in the review
- Andrews D, Robinson D and Balla M (1986). Risk principle of case classification and the prevention of residential placements: An outcome evaluation of the Share the Parenting program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 54(2): 203-207.
Studies identified but not counted towards the evidence rating due to study quality
- No studies that were identified were excluded due to study quality.