Program logic of a service collaboration to support parents with intellectual disability

Abstract

Background

This article describes the Steps to Confident Parenting (SCP) program, developed by an Australian family service consortium. The SCP integrates home-based and case-management services to enhance the skills of parents with a diagnosed or suspected intellectual disability/cognitive impairment and to prevent child protection interventions.

Method

‘Program explication’ methodology documented the components/activities, and underpinning evidence for this practitioner designed service through interviews with nine agency staff. A literature review evaluated evidence for the implicit program benefit theory.

Results and Conclusion

The SCP comprised five logically consistent components—Targeted Referral, Assessments, Initial Consultation, Program Delivery, Closure and Follow-up. Components generally had ‘some’ supportive evidence, however there was a ‘lack of’ evidence for Closure and Follow-up. In the context of a partnership seeking to build the evidence for the SCP, it was recommended that a protocol for a randomised trial evaluation with longer term follow-up be drafted by the consortia.