NHS Health Scotland

 

 

 

Evidence
 

B. Evidence for parenting interventions (Families model)

Summary

There is review-level evidence and policy to support the effectiveness of parenting interventions as a strategy to improve outcomes for children and reduce risk of misusing substances.

 

Rationale

There is review-level evidence of the effectiveness of parenting programmes with pre-teen and early adolescent children, notably in the transition from primary to secondary school, to reduce substance misuse in children. Parental engagement and commitment are important to the success of interventions and the focus should not solely be on the issue of substance use, rather on the whole family (relationships, social skills and personal responsibility). [1]

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Scottish policy and practice note


The National Parenting Strategy(2012) [2] champions the importance of parenting, by strengthening the support on offer to parents and by making it easier for them to access this support.

The Getting Our Priorities Right (GOPR) guidance [3] further highlights the need to keep parents at the forefront of a coordinated response if services are to be effective in achieving overall recovery for the whole family. The guidance describes good practice of working in partnership with parents and, where possible, including parents in any multi-agency meetings, in assessments and in developing care plans.

 

 

References:

  1. Petrie, J. Bunn, F. Byrne, G. (2007) Parenting programmes for preventing tobacco, alcohol or drugs misuse in children <18: a systematic review. Health Education Research. 22(2). Available from (external link) http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/2/177.full.pdf+html

  2. Scottish Government (2012) National Parenting Stategy. Available from (external link): www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0040/00403769.pdf

  3. Scottish Government (2012) Getting Our Priorities Right Guidance. Available from (external link): http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0042/00420685.pdf