Evaluation of a Task-Centered Child Abuse Prevention Program

• NCJ Number: 123643
• Journal: Children and Youth Services Review Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1989) Pages: 117-131
• Author(s): R P Barth
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-CA-0998; CB 33015-AI; 2-507-RR07006
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institutes of Health; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A task-centered, home-based program for families at high risk of child abuse is described, and data on service characteristics and outcomes are presented.

Abstract

Clients who received services between 1984 and 1986 were evaluated. They were referred to the program by public health social workers, social services, teen parent programs, and different agencies serving high-risk mothers and pregnant women. Clients completed the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI) before and after six months of program services by paraprofessionals. An average of 17 tasks were accomplished, as mutually assessed by parenting consultants and clients. Overall, 49 percent of the tasks were accomplished by parenting consultants, 41 percent by clients alone, and 9 percent by parenting consultants and clients together. The 6 months of services resulted in lower CAPI scores, indicating a reduction in child abuse risk from a high to a moderately high level. Relationships between the number of contacts, task accomplishment, goal achievement, client satisfaction, and CAPI scores provide support for a task-centered child abuse prevention program. 25 references, 4 tables.