Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Brief Description
The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Triple P - Positive Parenting Program has been rated by the CEBC in the areas of: Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Parent Training and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Secondary).
- Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
- Target Population: Parents and other caregivers of children from birth through age 18.
The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is a multi-level system of parenting and family support. It aims to prevent severe behavioral, emotional and developmental problems in children by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents. It can be provided individually, in a group, or as a self-directed format. It incorporates five levels of intervention on a tiered continuum of increasing strength for parents of children and adolescents from birth to age 16. The multi-disciplinary nature of the program allows utilization of the existing professional workforce in the task of promoting competent parenting. The program targets five different developmental periods from infancy to adolescence. Within each developmental period, the reach of the intervention can vary from being very broad (targeting an entire population) to quite narrow (targeting only high-risk children). Triple P-Positive Parenting Program enables practitioners to determine the scope of the intervention given their own service priorities and funding.
Essential Components
Uses developmentally appropriate interventions
- Provides a program designed for preschoolers and primary school children, as well as a distinct program for early teens.
- Provides tip sheets for each distinct age group (infants, toddlers, preschoolers, primary school children, early teens, and teens).
Uses an explicit self-regulatory framework
- Includes principles of: Self-sufficiency, Self-efficacy, Self-management, and Problem-solving.
- Teaches parents how to monitor behavior and asks them to set specific and observable goals.
- Enhances self-management and self-sufficiency by having the practitioner prompt the parent to review his or her implementation of parenting strategies. Asks parents to reflect on what they did well in the process (their strengths) and to set specific goals for any weaknesses they observed.
- Assists parents in applying the principles they have learned to solve problems in a self-sufficient manner by using multiple examples and a flexible teaching environment.
Uses the principles of sufficiency to ensure cost effectiveness
- Allows tailoring of intervention intensity to meet individual family needs which helps cost effectiveness.
- Assesses the level of risk the family faces via intake interview, questionnaires, monitoring, observation by practitioner.
- Tailors the level of intensity based on the level of risk the family faces (i.e., the higher the risk, the higher the intensity).
- Administers assessments after completion of an intervention level to determine if a family needs additional levels of intervention.
Incorporates identifiable program elements to promote generalization or transfer of learning
- Uses multiple examples as part of its flexible training philosophy.
- Teaches generalization and maintenance across time, situations, and children.
- Teaches parents strategies for managing high-risk situations (e.g. going shopping) to ensure generalization across contexts.
Offers and evaluates flexible delivery modalities such as:
- Individual delivery
- Group delivery
- Self-directed program delivery with or without telephone support
- Media-based delivery (e.g., television series)
Child Component
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program was designed with a child component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:
- Conduct problems, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorders, feeding problems, pain syndromes.
Age range: 0 – 16
Developmental Delays:
This program was developed for children with developmental delays, and has been tested for children with developmental delays.
Relevant research studies:
Sanders, M. R., & Plant, K. (1989). Programming for generalization to high and low risk parenting situations in families with oppositional developmentally disabled preschoolers. Behavior Modification, 13(3), 283–305.
Sanders, M. R., Mazzucchelli, T. G., & Studman, L. J. (2004). Stepping stones Triple P: The theoretical basis and development of an evidence-based positive parenting program for families with a child who has a disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 29(3), 265-283.
Roberts, C., Mazzucchelli, T., Studman, L., & Sanders, M. R. (2006). Behavioral family intervention for children with developmental disabilities and behavioral problems. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 35, 180-193.
Plant, K. M., & Sanders, M. R. (2007). Reducing problem behavior during care-giving in families of preschool-aged children with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28, 362-385.
Plant, K. M., & Sanders, M. R. (2007). Predictors of care-giver stress in families of preschool-aged children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 109-124.
Parent / Caregiver Component
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:
- Lack of parenting skills and confidence; attribution and anger management issues; lack of coping skills; or lack of partner support skills.
Group Format
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program was designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has been tested for use in a group setting.
Recommended group size:
10-12 parents.
Testing References:
Leung, C., Sanders, M. R., Leung, S., Mak, R., & Lau, J. (2003). An outcome evaluation of the implementation of the Triple P- Positive Parenting Program in Hong Kong. Family Process, 42(4), 95-108.
Sanders, M. R., Pidgeon, A., Gravestock, F., Connors, M.D., Brown, S., & Young, R. (2004). Does parental attributional retraining and anger management enhance the effects of the Triple P- Positive Parenting Program with parents at-risk of child maltreatment? Behavior Therapy, 35(3), 513-535.
Zubrick, S. R., Northey, K., Silburn, S. R., Lawrence, D., Williams, A. A., Blair, E., et. al. (2005). Prevention of child behavior problems through universal implementation of a group behavioral family intervention. Prevention Science, September 2005, 1-18.
Recommended Parameters
Recommended Intensity:
Sessions last up to one hour. The number of sessions varies according to the level of the intervention required by the family: Level 2 - approximately 1 to 2 weekly sessions delivered via individual brief consultations (or in large-group parenting seminars), Level 3 - up to 4 brief 20-minute weekly consultation sessions, Level 4 - 8 to 10 weekly sessions, and Level 5 - on average an additional 3 weekly sessions per family.
Recommended Duration:
This varies by the level of the intervention required by the family. For example, Level 2 is 1-2 weeks in duration, while Level 5 can be up to 12 weeks.
Delivery Settings
This program is typically conducted in a(n):
- Adoptive Home
- Birth Family Home
- Child Care Center
- Community Agency
- Foster Home
- Hospital
- Outpatient Clinic
- Religious Organization
- Residential Care Facility
- School
Homework
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program includes a homework component:
Homework varies depending on the level of intervention but could include: monitoring of child behavior, monitoring of parent behavior, implementation of positive parenting strategies (e.g. behavior charts) and discipline routines, practice sessions with child, viewing videos, reading parent workbooks, problem solving exercises, planned discussion with spouse or partner.
Languages
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program has materials available in languages other than English:
Dutch, Flemish, German, Japanese, Spanish, Swedish
For information on which materials are available in these languages, please check on the program's website or contact the program representative (contact information is listed at the bottom of this page).
Resources Needed to Run Program
The typical resources for implementing the program are:
Depends on program level, number of participants, and organizational configuration.
Minimum Provider Qualifications
A professional qualification in a human services discipline. Must become an accredited provider through the training provided.
Education and Training Resources
There is a manual that describes how to implement this program, and there is training available for this program.
Training is obtained:
It can be provided onsite within an agency or other convenient location.
- For training inquiries within USA, please go to www.triplep-America.com
- For all other training inquiries, please go to www.triplep.net (international)
Number of days/hours:
2-5 day training plus 1 day accreditation depending on level of intervention.
Implementation Information
Since Triple P - Positive Parenting Program is highly rated on the Scientific Rating Scale, information was requested from the program representative on available pre-implementation assessments, implementation tools, and/or fidelity measures.
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research
This program is rated a "1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence" on the Scientific Rating Scale based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The practice must have at least two rigorous randomized controlled trials with one showing a sustained effect of at least 1 year. Please see the Scientific Rating Scale for more information.
Child Welfare Outcomes: Safety and Child/Family Well-Being
References
Contact Information
- Name: Rita T. Bostick, MA, LPC
- Title: Head of U.S. Program Implementation
- Agency/Affiliation: Triple P America
- Website: www.triplep.net
- Email: rita@triplep.net
- Phone: (803) 451-2278
- Fax: (803) 451-2277
Date Reviewed: February 2009 (originally reviewed in March 2006)