Co-located Parent Coaching Services Within Pediatric Primary Care: Feasibility and Acceptability

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Primary Care
• Positive Parenting Programs
• Family Psychosocial Support

Background:

• Pediatric primary care settings often encounter parenting and family psychosocial concerns.
• Existing systems may lack integrated, specialized support for these issues.
• Parent Connext was developed to address this gap by embedding support within routine care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Parent Connext program.
• To evaluate the integration of screening and co-located parent coaching in pediatric primary care.
• To determine the impact on healthcare providers and patient-family relationships.

Main Methods:

• Eleven pediatric practices implemented Parent Connext in phases.
• Screening for parenting and psychosocial concerns occurred during patient visits.
• Providers utilized motivational interviewing and referrals; Parenting Specialists provided coaching.

Main Results:

• Screens were completed at 65% of targeted visits, with 26% positive for concerns.
• 48% of referred families received parent coaching (average 2.2 sessions).
• Providers reported increased support, confidence, and knowledge, with improved relationships and care quality.

Conclusions:

• Co-located parent coaching is a feasible and valuable addition to pediatric primary care.
• The Parent Connext model effectively addresses parenting and psychosocial concerns.
• The program demonstrates positive outcomes for both providers and families.