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Do you use grants to fund your parenting programs? Do your
grant providers require that your programs be listed on various
Proven Effective lists? Active Parenting has heard your requests,
and we're acting on them! We understand the increasing need for
our programs to be on these lists, and we're working hard behind
the scenes to prove the effectiveness of our programs.
New science-based content
When we developed Active
Parenting Now (APN), the revised edition of Active
Parenting Today, we added new content based on the Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)'s protective factors and
the 40 Developmental Assets developed by The Search Institute.
Both of these models are well known in the research field as
cornerstones of the body of knowledge in substance abuse prevention
and healthy youth development. CSAP's family domain features
actions parents can do to prevent risky behavior in their children-many
of which have been taught in Active Parenting programs since
they were first developed by Dr. Popkin in 1983. And Active Parenting
programs also dovetail seamlessly with the promotion model espoused
by The Search Institute.
Measurable outcomes
As part of our research efforts, Active Parenting has identified
"parenting best practices" that fall into three measurable
outcomes areas or domains, including:
- Bonding/Relationship Building/Communication
- Discipline/Protection/Influence
- Child Development/Skill Building/Character Building
These outcomes closely mirror outcomes described by CSAP and
The Search Institute (and many other well-respected research
organizations) as factors important to
- a) the promotion of healthy youth development, and
- b) the prevention of various risk factors that result in
youth alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) use and risky sexual
behavior.
Measuring these outcomes with existing instruments or with Active
Parenting's new instruments, you'll be well equipped to prove
the effectiveness of your program in these areas.
Active Parenting
Now Field
Study
We are currently conducting an extensive field research study
on Active Parenting Now. The study includes a control
group (parents not attending an APN group), and uses our newly
developed measurement instruments:
- Parent Attitudes and Beliefs Pre/Post Test
- Importance and Frequency/Consistency of Parent Behavior Pre/Post
Test
- Parent Observation of Child Behavior Pre/Post Test
Future Plans
We're excited about our plans for the future of research at Active
Parenting. When our APN field study is complete, we will submit
the results to various proven-effective listing organizations.
We will also adapt our new instruments for use with Active
Parenting of Teens and begin plans to develop research
for other Active Parenting programs. We also plan to develop
automatic scoring tools at our website to assist you in analyzing
data gathered from your parents.
Results of the APN field study will be published in early
2004. For information about the study, or to participate in the
study, please visit ActiveParenting.com/Research.htm.
Here you'll also find several research studies that have been
conducted on Active Parenting programs, as well as a comprehensive
Research Guide that includes detailed information about our research,
and downloadable versions of the new measurement instruments.
Bookmark this site (or sign
up for the e-newsletter) to keep an eye on our research progress!
Rachel Metzger is Product Development
Manger for Active Parenting Publishers.
Click for more information:
Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
The Search
Institute
Active
Parenting Now
Research
on Active Parenting programs
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