Project IMPACT: Achieving Family Stability for Parents With Intellectual Disabilities

Parents with intellectual disabilities are disproportionately represented within child welfare systems in the US. Meanwhile, there is evidence to suggest that this is a sizeable population, and child welfare systems encounter challenges in meeting families' needs. This study examines the potential efficacy of Project IMPACT, an intensive, in-home parent training program designed for parents with intellectual disabilities who have child welfare involvement. The aim of the program is to prevent family separation by improving parenting skills. The sample included 134 families who had participated in Project IMPACT and 355 families from a neighboring state who also had child welfare involvement. All families included a parent with intellectual disabilities. Treatment effects analysis was used to compare parents participating in Project IMPACT with a similar group of untreated parents. Logistic regression was used to identify between-group differences in family separation. Post-hoc analysis explored which families might benefit most from Project IMPACT. Project IMPACT families were 486% more likely to remain intact one year after program completion than untreated families. Effects were strongest for families with the youngest children. Child welfare systems should prioritize the implementation of evidence-informed interventions that tailor services to parents' distinct needs and learning styles. By providing effective preventive interventions, programs such as Project IMPACT can focus on keeping children safe at home while preventing family separation.