Feasibility and promise of community providers implementing home-based parent-child interaction therapy for families investigated for child abuse: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Miguel T Villodas; Jacqueline O Moses; Kelly D Cromer; Lucybel Mendez; Loreen S Magariño; Feion M Villodas; Daniel M Bagner

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105063

Feasibility and promise of community providers implementing home-based parent-child interaction therapy for families investigated for child abuse: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Child Abuse Negl. 2021 Jul:117:105063. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105063. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Authors

Miguel T Villodas¹, Jacqueline O Moses², Kelly D Cromer², Lucybel Mendez³, Loreen S Magariño², Feion M Villodas⁴, Daniel M Bagner⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, United States; Department of Psychology, Florida International University, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Utah, United States. Electronic address: mvillodas@sdsu.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Florida International University, United States.
³ Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, United States.
⁴ Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, United States; Department of Psychology, Florida International University, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Utah, United States.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Florida International University, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Utah, United States.

PMID: 33930663
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105063

Abstract

Background: Despite evidence supporting Parent-Child Interaction Therapy's (PCIT) effectiveness for maltreatment prevention, its integration in child welfare services (CWS) has been challenging.

Objective: Using a pilot randomized controlled trial design, we evaluated the (1) feasibility of training therapists from CWS providers to implement home-based PCIT (2) feasibility of retaining parent-child dyads at-risk for child abuse in voluntary PCIT services, and (3) promise of PCIT for improving parenting skills.

Participants and setting: Between 2015-2017, 23 therapists from CWS providers and 55 caregiver-child dyads who were determined to be at moderate-to-high risk for physical and/or emotional abuse, remained in the same home, and were referred for voluntary parenting services following a child protective investigation participated.

Methods: We trained 14 therapists in home-based PCIT and randomly assigned participating dyads to receive PCIT or services as usual (SAU). Dyads completed baseline and post-treatment assessments, including self-reported and observed parenting skills.

Results: All therapists successfully completed the PCIT training; none completed full certification requirements. Of all randomized dyads, 51 % completed at least one treatment session, and the mean number of treatment sessions was 10.83. Caregivers assigned to PCIT used more self-reported (d = .72) and observed (d = .59) positive parenting skills post-treatment than caregivers assigned to SAU. Negative, inconsistent, and punitive parenting strategies and parenting stress did not significantly differ between caregivers assigned to PCIT and SAU.

Conclusions: Despite several challenges to feasibly implementing PCIT in community-based child welfare settings, even a small dose of PCIT improved positive parenting skills among at-risk parent-child dyads.

Keywords: Child abuse prevention; Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; Parenting intervention.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Child Abuse* / prevention & control
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Parent-Child Relations*
Parenting
Pilot Projects