A pilot study of implementing of a home-visiting parent training program: SafeCare in Japan

SafeCare® is an in-home parent training program that promotes positive parent-child/infant interactions and home safety. The present study examined the feasibility, acceptability and possible effectiveness of implementing the SafeCare program in the Japanese community as a pilot study.

We recruited 21 families between March 2023 and May 2024 in Fukuoka city. Target families were those needing to improve interactions with their children and home safety and those at risk of child abuse and neglect.

Fourteen families completed the program, including parent-child/infant interaction (PCI/PII) and safety modules. These families had 13.9 visits on average (SD = 2.3; Range: 10-18). Among the families that did not complete the program, six averaged 2.8 visits for the PCI/PII module, while one family attended eight visits for the safety module. The modified short form of the Home Observation for Measurement of Environment Inventory showed improvement (mean score: pre = 7.9; post = 10.1; p < 0.001) and a decrease in child-rearing stress (mean score: pre = 5.4; post = 3.9; p = 0.020).

This pilot study showed that SafeCare is feasible program and has been accepted in the Japanese community. It also demonstrates the potential benefits for families at risk of child abuse and neglect. Further studies are needed to confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of SafeCare using an experimental design with a larger sample size.