Child Welfare Services: Project IMPACT
Project Description:
Ensuring the safety, permanence, and well-being of children whose parents have cognitive limitations can be a real challenge. Experts estimate that more than 50% of all parents with cognitive limitations experience permanent or temporary removal of their children (Keltner & Tymchuk, 1992). Given the increased integration of adults with developmental disabilities into the community, there has been a rise in the number of those who have become parents. These parents are likely to have less developed abilities on a variety of child care skills than parents without such limitations (Feldman, 1998). Given their needs, these parents have been routinely identified as being at risk for child maltreatment.
Many parenting programs provide education on general child management skills. However, there are few that provide parent training to this population. A typical curriculum cannot effectively address the specific needs of these parents, as the curriculum is often too complex and the program length too brief. Programs that provide specialized support for parents who have cognitive disabilities are becoming a growing focus of national and international attention. Research shows that successful programs for parents with intellectual disabilities include such components as an intensive model with ongoing rehearsal of skills (Feldman, 1998).
Project IMPACT is a unique child maltreatment prevention program that was developed at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) in 2006. The program was developed following a program evaluation that found that of the at-risk families who received a comprehensive family assessment, those parents with cognitive disabilities were more likely to comply with recommendations but also more likely to have children placed into foster care. A needs assessment conducted at that time found there were no parenting programs in our county that provided parent training services that met the learning needs of parents with cognitive disabilities. Project IMPACT provides intensive, in-home services for parents with cognitive limitations who are at risk for family disruption. Services are provided three times a week for six months in a multi-modal format covering over 20 skill areas. Baseline, ongoing, and post-intervention data is collected as part of the program.
Goals of the Program
. To provide permanency, safety and wellbeing for children with parents with cognitive and/or learning disabilities.
. To identify service needs for the child and family following intensive in-home services to reduce family disruption for these families
Objectives
. To provide intensive in-home parent training services to families at risk for foster care placement of their children
. To provide parenting services that meet the learning needs of parents with cognitive disabilities
. To ensure that children in those families receive all appropriate health, mental health and developmental services
. To ensure that caseworkers are knowledgeable about the needs of these families and can be empowered to support permanency for children in those families
Overall families will be functioning in a manner that keeps children safe and ensures that their well-being needs are met.
Benefits of the program include capacity building for parent training programs, improved permanency outcomes for children and increased knowledge about the needs of parents with cognitive disabilities.
Keyword(s):
parent skill training, parents with cognitive disabilities, child welfare,
Core Function(s):
Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training
Area of Emphasis
Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
