Risk Reduction via a Community-Wide Approach to Parenting and Family Support

Parenting plays a pivotal role in child and adolescent development, including antisocial and pro-social behavioral outcomes. Early family-based intervention is generally accepted as a cogent approach to the prevention and amelioration of childhood behavior problems. One such family-based intervention is a multi-level system called the Triple P—Positive Parenting Program. Triple P belongs to the broader class of evidence-based interventions which aim to empower parents with the skills and attitudes needed to optimize the social-interaction environments instrumental for reducing child behavior problems. The more unique contributions of Triple P are found in the public health-friendly structure and formats that aid in community-wide dissemination and uptake, and in the integration of self-regulatory processes throughout the intervention system. The Triple P system involves five programming levels of increasing intensity to meet various parental needs and preferences. The system further includes format variations at some of the levels, reflecting group, individual, online, and mass communication modes of program delivery. The evidence base for Triple P has grown over many years to be quite large and reflects studies conducted across the levels, formats, and variants of Triple P, in many settings, with numerous segments of the population, and in several countries. The public health strategy for parenting support, as represented by Triple P, continues to evolve and improve in ways that offer a de-stigmatized, positive approach to reduction in child and family risk of adverse adolescent outcomes including but not limited to delinquency and violence.