Implementation of an Early Preventive Intervention Programme for Child Neglect: SafeCare.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Social Work
• Public Health

Background:

• Child neglect is a widespread form of child maltreatment with potentially severe long-term consequences, especially in early childhood.
• Preventive and early interventions are crucial for mitigating the harmful effects of child neglect.
• The SafeCare program, an evidence-based home visiting model, targets child neglect in families with children aged 0-5 years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the first pilot implementation of the SafeCare program in Spain.
• To assess the effectiveness of SafeCare in improving parenting skills and reducing negative child and family outcomes.
• To determine parental satisfaction and the feasibility of integrating SafeCare into Spanish Child Protective Services.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 89 families referred to SafeCare between 2014 and 2017, with 46 completing the program.
• Assessment of parenting skills, depressive symptoms, child abuse potential, parental stress, and child behavioral problems at baseline and post-treatment.
• Evaluation of parental satisfaction with the SafeCare program post-intervention.

Main Results:

• High levels of parental satisfaction were reported.
• Significant improvements were observed in parenting skills.
• Significant reductions were found in child abuse potential, parental stress, and perceived child behavioral problems.

Conclusions:

• The SafeCare program demonstrates utility for families exhibiting early signs of child neglect.
• The study confirms the feasibility of implementing this evidence-based program within Spain's Child Protective Services system.
• Further research with larger sample sizes and experimental designs is recommended to strengthen findings.