The New Beginnings Program (NBP) is a parenting intervention for parents who are divorcing, separating or are separated with a child between 3 and 18 years. It is delivered by two practitioners to groups of up to eight parents through 10 sessions lasting 1 hour 45 mins each. During these sessions, parents learn strategies for reducing inter-parental conflict, supporting their child’s needs, and improving the quality of the parent–child relationship.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
3 to 18 years old
Group
Child outcomes:
UK available
UK tested
The New Beginnings Program (NBP) is for parents with a child between 3 and 18 years old who are separating or have separated.
NBP is delivered by two practitioners to groups of up to eight parents through 10 sessions lasting 1 hour 45 mins each. Parents also receive two individual phone sessions between instructors to tailor intervention content to each family’s individual needs.
NBP’s content targets four factors that commonly place separating families at risk:
During these sessions, parents learn strategies for reducing inter-parental conflict, supporting their child’s needs, and improving the quality of the parent–child relationship. Strategies covered include anger management techniques, active listening skills, and age-appropriate discipline. Parent learning is promoted through group discussions, videos, role-plays, coaching, troubleshooting difficulties, and home practice assignments. Through these activities parents learn how the skills are linked to children’s adjustment outcomes and how to use them effectively.
3 to 18 years
Families with a child between 3 and 18 years, who are divorced, separated, or separating
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Parental separation, divorce, and the subsequent period represent a stressful transition in the family lifecycle
Parental separation is known to increase the risk of child emotional and behavioural problems during childhood and adolescence.
Science-based assumption
Avoiding conflict and working effectively as co-parents can reduce the stress children experience during parental divorce and separation.
Science-based assumption
Separating parents can benefit from advice on improving the co-parenting relationship and reducing inter-parental conflict.
Intervention
Parents learn to:
Work effectively as co-parents while living apart
Reduce inter-parental conflict
Support their children’s needs through active listening skills
Encourage positive child behaviour
Implement age-appropriate discipline.
Short-term
Parents are better able to work effectively as co-parents
Families are better able to manage conflict
Parents experience improved wellbeing
Parent–child interaction improves.
Medium-term
Families are better able to manage post-separation
Children’s emotional wellbeing is supported
Children’s behaviour improves.
Long-term
Children are at less risk of emotional and behavioural problems as they develop.
Families with children aged between 3 and 18 years where the parents have recently divorced, separated, or are separating.
New Beginnings is delivered in 10 sessions of 1 hour 45 mins duration each by two practitioners, to groups of up to eight parents.
Activities include group discussion, skills demonstration videos, role-plays, review of use of skills, troubleshooting difficulties, and assignment of home practice. Through these activities parents learn how the skills are linked to children’s adjustment outcomes and how to use them effectively.
Practitioners are expected to have a master’s qualification or higher, for example as a social worker or psychologist.
The practitioners have three days of intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is recommended.
It is recommended that practitioners are supervised by one host-agency supervisor, with 112 hours of intervention training, and one external supervisor.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Dr Sharlene Wolchik
Organisation: Arizona State University REACH Institute
Email address: Wolchik@asu.edu
Website: https://divorceandparenting.com/
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
New Beginnings’ most rigorous evidence comes from two RCTs which were conducted in the United States.
Both RCTs were included in a single study, and identified statistically significant improvements in children’s internalising and externalising behaviour, and mental health, with impact sustained in longer-term follow-up.
New Beginnings can be described as evidence-based: it has evidence from at least one rigorously conducted RCT or QED demonstrating a statistically significant positive impact on at least one child outcome.
Reduced internalising problems
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced internalising problems
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced internalising problems
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced diagnosis of mental disorder
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced externalising problems
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced externalising problems
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced externalising problems
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
| Identified in search | 3 |
| Studies reviewed | 3 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 0 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 2 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 1 |
| Study design | RCT |
| Country | United States |
| Sample characteristics |
|
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities |
|
| Population risk factors |
|
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes | Post-intervention
6-month follow-up
6-year follow-up
15-year follow-up
|
| Other outcomes | Post-intervention
|
| Study rating | 3 |
| Citations | Study 1a: Wolchik, S. A., West, S. G., Sandler, I. N., Tein, J. Y., Coatsworth, D., Lengua, L., … & 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. Study 1b: Wolchik, S. A., Sandler, I. N., Millsap, R. E., Plummer, B. A., Greene, S. M., Anderson, E. R., … & Haine, R. A. (2002) Six-year follow-up of preventive interventions for children of divorce: A randomized controlled trial. Jama. 288 (15), 1874–1881. Study 1c: Wolchik, S. A., Sandler, I., Tein, J.-Y., Mahrer, N., Millsap, R., Winslow, E., . . . Reed, A. (2013) Fifteen-year follow-up of a randomized trial of a preventive intervention for divorced families: Effects on mental health and substance use outcomes in young adulthood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 81 (4), 660–673. |
| Study design | RCT |
| Country | United States |
| Sample characteristics | 830 families (including 886 mothers or fathers) with children aged between 3 and 18 years, where the parents had attended court in the past two years for a divorce, separation, or change in parenting time agreement. |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities |
|
| Population risk factors | None reported |
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes |
|
| Other outcomes |
|
| Study rating | 3 |
| Citations | Sandler, I., Wolchik, S., Mazza, G., Gunn, H., Tein, J. Y., Berkel, C., … & Porter, M. (2019) Randomized effectiveness trial of the New Beginnings Program for divorced families with children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 40 (3), 247–263. |
The following studies were identified for this intervention but did not count towards the intervention’s overall evidence rating. An intervention receives the same rating as its most robust study or studies.
Wolchik, S., West, S., Westover, S., Sandler, I., Martin, A., Lustig, J., . . . Fisher, J. (1993) The children of divorce parenting intervention: Outcome evaluation of an empirically based program. American Journal of Community Psychology. 21 (3), 293–331.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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