Parent-training programs in child welfare services: Planning for a more evidence-based approach to serving biological parents

Child welfare service agencies provide parent training as part of their legally mandated responsibility to provide services to assist families to keep their children at home or to achieve reunification. The use of parent-training programs for families in the child welfare system has undergone relatively little examination. Mental health, special education, and juvenile justice have been identifying evidence-based approaches that have demonstrated effectiveness with children and families with conduct disorders and other behavioral problems, although few of these interventions have been tested with child welfare services clientele. This article brings together evidence about the most promising programs from other child service sectors with information about the current parent training approaches in child welfare and generates a range of proposals about next steps to enhance the capacity of parent training and fulfill the high expectations set in law and practice.