The Evaluation of Parents As Teachers (PAT) + Safecare to Improve Outcomes for High-Risk Families

Families at highest risk for maltreatment have various needs that are rarely addressed by a singular intervention. One way to address this is to integrate programs for families in order to offer complementary components of more than one program. SafeCare® is an evidence-based family support program that has been shown to reduce child maltreatment among families with a history or at risk for maltreatment. Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an evidence-based family-support program that has been shown to improve parenting knowledge and skills, and improve child school readiness. 

Parents as Teachers + SafeCare at Home (PATSCH), funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a systematically braided curriculum of the two models implemented at eight Parents as Teachers sites across three states and compared to PAT services-as-usual. To our knowledge, no research has examined the methodology or effect of braiding two models together, but collaboration between programs is an appealing option for funders. The rationale and methodology of braiding will be presented, as well as preliminary data regarding the potential for reducing the risk of child maltreatment, parenting outcomes and child school readiness. Specifically, baseline data show the improvement of safety in the home environment for families participating in the PATSCH program compared to services as usual. Additional baseline characteristics, six-month follow-up data collection, and qualitative feedback from providers will be complete by the end of the year and will be integrated into the presentation as well.