Family Engagement and Retention in Prevention Services

Resources addressing the engagement and retention of families in parent education, home visitation, and other types of prevention programs. Resources include State and local examples.

Engagement and Retention in Voluntary New Parent Support Programs: Final Report
Chapin Hall Center for Children (2005)
Examines factors that increase parents' use of voluntary support services.

Engaging Parents in Child Abuse Prevention Activities [Teleconference]
FRIENDS National Resource Center For Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (2007)
Presents a panel of States sharing how they involve parents in child abuse prevention activities during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and throughout the year.

Family Engagement and Retention (PDF - 2120 KB)
LeCroy and Milligan Associates, Inc.
Building Bridges: Linking Practice and Research on Home Visitation, Fall 2006
Examines research regarding engagement and retention in the Healthy Families program.

From Intent to Enrollment, Attendance, and Participation in Preventive Parenting Groups
Dumas, Nissley-Tsiopinis, & Moreland
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16(1), 2007
Determines the ability of family and child characteristics to predict intent to enroll, enrollment, attendance, and quality of participation in a parent education program.

Lack of Parent Engagement in Home Visits: Parent or Professional Problem? (PDF - 4342 KB)
Roggman, Boyce, & Innocenti (2010)
Offers slides from a presentation at the Conference in Research Innovations in Early Intervention that discuss the role of parent engagement in home visiting services, review problems of low parent engagement, and share findings from a study that examined strategies used by 25 home visitors in a Part C Early Intervention Program.

Patterns of Retention in a Preventive Intervention with Ethnic Minority Families
Coatsworth, Duncan, Pantin, & Szapocznik
Journal of Primary Prevention, 27(2), 2006
View Abstract
Considers socio-demographic, child, and family-level characteristics that impact retention patterns among African-American and Hispanic parent participants of a family-focused preventive intervention. Includes implications for developing strategies to improve retention rates.

Predictors of Early Engagement in Home Visitation
Ammerman, Stevens, Putnam, Altaye, Hulsmann, Lehmkuhl, et al.
Journal of Family Violence, 21(2), 2006
View Abstract
Identifies predictors of engagement in mothers receiving home visitation in the first year of service.

Who Completes Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs? (PDF - 57 KB)
Portland State University Research and Training Center for Family Support and Children's Mental Health (2008)
Summarizes a study finding that caregiver mental health and characteristics of the prevention program (i.e. length, relationship with staff) predict completion of a community-based intervention aimed at preventing child neglect.

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State and local examples

Client and Service Use Predictors of Successfully Completing a Child Maltreatment Prevention Program
Theriot, O'Day, & Hatfield
Protecting Children, 24(2), 2009
View Abstract and Document
Examines a Family Connections program in Tennessee and finds that families receiving more comprehensive direct services and those served for a shorter time period were more likely to complete services.

Maximizing the Therapeutic Helping Alliance With High-Risk Families
Stephens, Mills, Williams, Bridge, & Massie
Protecting Children, 24(2), 2009
View Abstract and Document
Presents a case study from a Family Connections program in Michigan that demonstrates the clinical and programmatic processes associated with a helping alliance that were used by counselors to achieve a high level of engagement and successful outcomes with one high-risk family.

Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Participants in Prevention Programs (PDF - 228 KB)
Cooney, Small, & O'Connor (2007)
Explores multiple reasons for challenges in recruiting and retaining youth and families in prevention programs, and suggests strategies for success

Working With Families Right From the Start
Massachusetts Department of Social Services
Resources and publications on this project aimed at improving the department's engagement and involvement with families.

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