Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Parenting Program for Resource Parents.

Area of Science:

• Child Welfare
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Parent Education

Background:

• Child maltreatment significantly affects youth in the child welfare system.
• Resource parents require specialized knowledge and skills in trauma-informed care.
• The Resource Parent Curriculum (RPC) is an 8-module program designed to equip parents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a preliminary evaluation of the Resource Parent Curriculum (RPC).
• To examine the impact of the RPC on resource parent knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors.
• To assess outcomes in a Canadian context using a virtual delivery model.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed.
• Participants included 22 resource parents in the experimental group and 21 in the waitlist control group.
• Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-program, and at a 2-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The RPC significantly improved resource parents' knowledge and beliefs regarding trauma-informed parenting.
• Non-significant positive trends were observed in parental tolerance of challenging behaviors and self-efficacy.
• Potential improvements in parent-youth attachment and social support were noted but not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• The RPC demonstrates benefits for resource parents, particularly in enhancing trauma-informed knowledge and beliefs.
• The study highlights the need for ongoing training and support for resource parents.
• This research provides a preliminary evaluation of a virtually delivered RPC in a Canadian setting.