Family Check-Up (FCU) for Children
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Where the program was applied
Country of application
Description

This is an intervention program for socially vulnerable families with children aged between 2 and 3 who are exposed to risk factors for the development of emotional and behavioral problems. The aim is to provide families with the motivation to change behavior and identify applicable resources.
As part of the intervention, parents are interviewed to identify how social vulnerabilities can negatively affect their children’s development process. Strategies are then identified that can be implemented by families to reduce the risks related to children’s social and emotional development, as well as motivational interviewing techniques used to get parents to implement those actions.

Impact evaluations

An experimental study showed a positive impact on the children of the families participating in the program, with a statistically significant reduction in internalizing emotional and externalizing behavioral problems [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D., Connell, A., Gardner, F., Weaver, C., & Wilson, M. (2008). The family check‐up with high‐risk indigent families: Preventing problem behavior by increasing parents’ positive behavior support in early childhood. Child development, 79(5), 1395-1414.

Information source