Response of Parents to Parent Education and Support Programs: A Review of Evaluation Research on Some

The paper reports on the findings of a recent investigation in the USA of parent support programs and the evaluation research associated with those programs. The primary question guiding the investigation was: What has been measured or recorded about parents ’ preferences for particular styles of delivery or types of information about child development and parenting? The question was pursued in the USA rather than in Australia because a wide range of family support and parent education programs have been operating in the USA since the 1970s, and many have been the subject of evaluative research. The paper will focus on programs that target families with children aged 0-5 years and present information about four key programs: the Infant Health and Development project, New Chance, Parents as Teachers and Healthy Start. The findings of evaluations of the programs in terms of consequences for children and parents will be presented in the context of the original question about parental response, in terms of changes in parenting beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. In general, limited information has been collected about parental response during and following participation in these programs. The paper will argue that we need to know more about the mediating effects of parental response to programs to help explain benefits that flow to children. We also need to know more about the community links of families and how these are affected, positively or negatively, by participation in such programs. An argument is made for parental involvement and input from the beginning of programs so that they are more closely matched to needs. A successful example of designing information for parents about parenting and child development is seen in th