New Beginnings (for Children of Divorced Parents)
Problems addressed
Externalizing behaviors/problems
Internalizing behaviors/problems
Low parental skills
Family breakdown and/or dysfunctionality
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
People of all ages
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a program for divorced parents aimed at reducing children’s exposure to parental conflict and improving the quality of relationships between parents and children. Parents receive a manual and a DVD where experts explain the content covered.
The sessions last around two hours and include didactic presentations, a skills model program, other parents’ testimonials, a session to practice at home, and a review of how the skills can be worked on with the children. In addition, the program includes two individual sessions conducted by telephone.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that the program has had promising effects on parenting practices, general family functioning, and children’s disruptive, externalizing, and internalizing behavior [1] [2] [3] [4].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Wolchik, S. A., West, S. G., Westover, S., Sandler, I. N., Martin, A., Lustig, J., Tein, J. Y. & Fisher, J. (1993). The children of divorce parenting intervention: Outcome evaluation of an empirically based program. American Journal of Community Psychology, 21(3), 293-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00941505

[2] Wolchik, S. A., West, S. G., Sandler, I. N., Tein, J.‑Y., Coatsworth, D., Lengua, L., Weiss, L., Anderson, E. R., Greene, S. M. & Griffin, W. A. (2000). An experimental evaluation of theory-based mother and mother–child programs for children of divorce. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(5), 843–856. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.5.843

[3] Bonds McClain, D., Wolchik, SA, Winslow, EB, Tein, J.-Y., Sandler, IN, & Millsap, RE (2010). Efeitos em cascata de desenvolvimento do Programa Novos Começos nos resultados de adaptação de adolescentes . Development and Psychopathology, 22 (4), 771–784. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579410000453

[4] Hipke, KN., Wolchik, SA., Sandler, IN., & Braver, SL (2002). Preditores de resiliência induzida por intervenção de crianças em um programa parental para mães divorciadas. Relações Familiares, 51 (2), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2002.00121.x

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