NCJ Number
138465
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (July/August 1992) Pages: 495-511
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether entry-level family functioning and family problems had an impact on length of time in treatment and the improvement or deterioration of family functioning over time.
Abstract
Data were observational and were collected in a naturalistic setting during the operation of an ongoing clinical intervention called Project Good Start. The 172 sampled families participated for at least 3 months between July 1984 and December 1986. Project Good Start used one-to- one intervention within a social service mode. The intervention was home-based and designed to enhance parenting skills; generate community networking; and link the mother, her partner, and her children with necessary services. Data on each of the sampled families were collected primarily with two instruments: the Family Problem Checklist and the Family Function Scale. The analyses used entry-level characteristics to classify families into five homogeneous groups: situationally stressed, chronically stressed, emotionally stressed, multirisk, and violent multirisk. The study found that treatment duration and rate of change in family functioning over time differed in clinically important ways across these groups. The findings suggest that treatment is likely to be effective in stabilizing and slowly improving family functioning of the majority of families at risk of child maltreatment. 2 tables and 50 references