A parent support group program led by parents and other caregivers to support and strengthen families.
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
Australian Study
Risk of Bias
Cost
Target Age Group
About
Circle of Parents® is a mutual, self-help parent support group program, which provides a friendly, supportive environment led by parents and other caregivers. It’s a place where anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children and where they can find and share support.
Aims
- Increase parent’s knowledge of child abuse and neglect prevention including the generational transmission of adverse childhood experiences
- Increase parent’s ability to form nurturing and secure attachment with the child
- Increase parent’s knowledge of positive parenting and child development
- Increase parent’s resilience/positive coping skills
- Increase parent’s social connections and ability to give and receive support
- Increase parent’s connections to concrete supports and services
- Increase parent’s knowledge of healthy social and emotional development of children.
Impact
Evidence for Circle of Parents was mixed for parents' mental health and parenting outcomes. There was negative effect found for family functioning. Parents in the Circle of Parents group reported less family functioning or resiliency than the comparison group after intervention over a 4-month period.
| Outcome domain | Outcome measured | Positive effect | No effect | Negative effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent/caregiver | Mental health/functioning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parent/caregiver | Parenting | Yes | Not found | Yes |
| Family | Functioning | Not found | 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.
Circle of Parents® has an evidence rating of Supported.
This means that Circle of Parents® 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. Circle of Parents® 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 included QE has low quality of evidence and results should to be interpreted with caution.
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
- 79 parents (40 intervention, 39 control) participated in the study and outcomes were measured for 56 parents (31 intervention, 25 control).
- Parents had at least one child under age 17 and were living in housing programs in a moderate-sized city in a south-eastern state where Circle of Parents® was offered.
- Participants identified as African American (80%) and other (20%).
Implementation
Delivery model, mode and setting
- Circle of Parents® is delivered in-person, to groups of parents in a community setting by a trained group facilitator and parent leader.
Target cohort
- Any parent or caregiver of children ages 0 to 18.
Program delivery
Essential components of the Circle of Parents® include:
- Utilising a mutual self-help support model
- Having a trained group facilitator and parent leader facilitate the support groups of 5 to 12 participants
- Offering free groups that meet weekly
- Having the group facilitator, parent leader and other group members available to one another between group meetings
- Offering ongoing groups that require no intake, and with few exceptions, are open to all parents
- Assuring group members of confidentiality in a nonjudgmental environment within the limits of the law
- Having community resource information that supports healthy family development available to all group members.
Duration and intensity
- Support groups meet once weekly for an average of 90 minutes.
- The length of time for participation is open-ended except for situations where the program setting or structure limits the availability of the program.
Manuals and guides
- There is a manual that describes how to deliver Circle of Parents®.
Additional information
- The Circle of Parents® website has more information about the program model.
Staffing
- The Children’s Program Leader is required to have at least one year of experience with children’s programming.
- Support Group Facilitators must have previous experience working with parents and families, group facilitation skills, willingness to engage in equal and mutually respective partnerships with parents and a commitment to ending all forms of family violence.
- Facilitators are required to receive program screening and training and adhere to the mission, principles, key elements and network standards.
- Program Supervisors must have previous experience managing a family support program, program evaluation and data collection skills, knowledge of group dynamics and facilitation, knowledge of mandated reporter requirements for suspected child abuse and neglect, and the ability to link group participants, as needed, to community resources that address concrete needs, mental health issues, domestic violence, substance abuse and/or medical problems. Minimum educational requirements consists of a Master's degree in social services and 2 years of work experience or a Bachelor's degree with 5 years of social services experience.
Training
- National Circle of Parents®® Model Training is offered by the state network organisations’ national trainers. It is recommended that the training be conducted over 3 days. The Train the Trainer training provided by the national office takes place over the course of 3 days.
To our knowledge, Circle of Parents® is not available and has not been implemented in Australia.
Cost
We were unable to locate any information on the cost of Circle of Parents®.
References
Studies identified and included in the review
- Haskett ME, Okoniewski KC, Armstrong JM, Galanti S, Lowder E, Loehman J & Lanier PJ (2017). Feasibility, acceptability, and effects of a peer support group to prevent child maltreatment among parents experiencing homelessness. Children and Youth Services Review, 73:187-196.
Studies identified but not counted towards the evidence rating due to study quality
- No studies that were identified were excluded due to study quality.