Families First/The Incredible Years

2020

1) Need - The parent-child relationship is known to exert a powerful influence on child development and a high quality caregiving relationship can even mediate environmental risk factors on infant development. These protective factors can diminish the manifestation of emotional and behavioral disorders in children as well as improve developmental outcomes. Mother-child relationships characterized by mutual expressions of positive affect and closeness are associated with a number of early school outcome variables such as peer social skills, work habits and frustration tolerance. In addition, higher levels of competence in mother-child interaction predict higher child competence and lower child behavior problems in kindergarten. These findings suggest that the quality of the caregiver-child relationship may significantly impact developmental outcomes for young children. Research suggests that relationship-based parenting approaches can positively influence early child development by impacting the parent-child relationship. Relationship-based interventions encourage parents to use responsive interactive strategies during routine interactions with their children. 2) Overall goals and objectives - The FAMILIES FIRST Network is a community-based partnership providing community-based services to achieve the following goals: a)Provide high-quality, relationship-focused parenting promotion and prevention service activities for families of young children birth to 5 in Miami-Dade County; b) Improve the system of care and parenting resources available to parents; and c)Strengthen the parent-child relationship and promote optimal child health and development during early childhood. 3) Unusual features - The FAMILIES FIRST Network offers 3 Parenting Promotion Service Activities for parents with children aged birth through five-years: 1) Parenting Groups based on best practice curricula that meet weekly for 10-12 weeks; 2) Brief Parenting Seminars (1-3 hours in length) offered monthly at diverse community settings, and 3) Individualized Developmental Consultation provided in collaborating Health Care settings. Services are available in Spanish and English, and will utilize different venues and formats to accommodate family schedules/needs. 4) Expected benefits - It is anticipated that the FAMILIES FIRST Network will increase the number of high quality parenting promotion programs offered in community settings in Miami-Dade County; promoting knowledge of positive parenting strategies, strengthening the parent-child relationship and facilitating optimal child development among participating families. These results are believed to promote positive outcomes for society in the long term because children will be more likely to grow into healthy, contributing members of society.

Parenting; Developmental Consultations

Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Demonstration Services

Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities

Family Members/Caregivers, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban

Single-County

N/A