Circle of Security (COS) - Summary

Scientific Rating:

Not able to be Rated
See scale of 1-5

Scientific Rating:

NR - Not able to be Rated

On a scale of 1-5

Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:

Not able to be Rated
See scale of 1-3

Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:

NR - Not able to be Rated

On a scale of 1-3

Type of Maltreatment: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Physical neglect

Target Population: High-risk populations such as child enrolled in Early Head Start or Head Start programs, incarcerated women, or irritable babies.

Brief Description:(The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff.)

Circle of Security (COS) has been reviewed by the CEBC in the areas of Infant and Toddler Mental Health (0-3) and Parent Training, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given either a Scientific Rating or a Child Welfare Relevance Rating. The COS protocol is an early intervention program designed to prevent insecure attachment and child mental disorders. The COS protocol differs from previous intervention approaches in several important ways.

First, it teaches caregivers the fundamentals of attachment theory (i.e., children’s use of the caregiver as a secure base from which to explore and a safe haven in times of distress) by introducing a user-friendly graphic to the caregivers that they can refer to throughout the program.
Second, it focuses on both parenting behaviors and internal working models.
Third, it presents caregivers with a simple structure for considering the ways in which their internal working models influence their cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to their children. The goal is to provide language that gives caregivers awareness and understanding of the non-conscious, problematic responses they sometimes have to their children’s needs.

The COS approach provides caregivers with the skills to understand their children’s behavior, and the skills to understand and regulate their own cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to their children.

Contact Information

Show Contact Information

Contact name: Bert Powell

Affiliation/Agency: Circle of Security

Email: b-spowell@mindspirng.com

Phone: 509-455-7654 ext 27

Fax: 509-455-4112

Website: http://www.circleofsecurity.net

Detailed Report

Click here for a detailed report which includes Essential Components, Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research, Education and Training Resources, etc.

Date reviewed: November 2009 (originally reviewed June 2008)