Parents Plus Parenting when Separated (PP-PWS) is a parenting intervention for parents with a child aged between 0 and 18 years old who are preparing for, going through, or have gone through a separation or divorce. Two practitioners deliver the intervention to groups of up to 12 parents through six sessions lasting approximately two hours each. During the sessions, parents learn strategies for supporting their children as co-parents living separately.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
2 to 16 years old
Group
Parents Plus Parenting when Separated (PP-PWS) is one of eight Parents Plus! interventions adapted specifically for parents who are preparing for, going through, or have gone through, a separation or divorce.
Two practitioners deliver PP-PWS to groups of up to 12 parents through six sessions lasting approximately two hours each. PP-PWS can be delivered in a variety of settings including community centres, primary schools, secondary schools, and outpatient health centres. Both mothers and father can attend, either together or separately.
PP-PWS provides separating parents with practical strategies to help their children cope with the effects of parental separation or divorce on families. The intervention also aims to help parents with their own mental wellbeing. The intervention uses skills-building exercises and activities to help parents develop communication skills between parents, and between parents and children. Topics include:
0 to 18 years old
Parents who are preparing for, going through, or have gone through a separation or divorce.
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Parental separation, divorce and the immediate aftermath can be 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.
Intervention
Parents learn how to:
Work effectively as co-parents while living apart
Reduce inter-parental conflict
Support their children’s needs
Manage their own stress and wellbeing.
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.
Parents of children between the ages of 0 and 18 years old whose parents are preparing for, going through, or have gone through a separation or divorce. Parents have to have been separated for at least one month.
Parents Plus Parenting When Separated is delivered in six sessions of 2.5 hours’ duration each over a six-week period, by two practitioners, to groups of 12 participants.
The intervention combines education through manualised material containing research-based ideas with skills-building exercises using group discussion, role-play, homework assignments, and problem-solving.
Participants develop their communication skills between parents, and between parents and children; conflict resolution skills; positive self-care skills; and parenting skills.
The practitioners who deliver this intervention are qualified mental health professionals with a background in psychology and social work.
Practitioners have 17 hours of intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is recommended.
It is recommended that practitioners receive case management supervision from one host-agency supervisor. Host-agency supervisors are not required to receive any further intervention training.
It is also recommended that practitioners receive clinical supervision from one intervention developer/external supervisor. Intervention developer/external supervisors are required to receive 14 hours of intervention training.
Parents Plus have a detailed quality protocol that outlines the supervision process.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: John Sharry
Organisation: Parents Plus
Email address: john@parentsplus.ie
Website: www.parentsplus.ie
*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.
Parents Plus Parenting when Separated’s most rigorous evidence comes from a single RCT conducted in Ireland consistent with Foundations’ Level 2+ evidence strength threshold.
This study observed statistically significant improvements in PP-PWS parent reports of children’s behaviour and emotional wellbeing in comparison to families not receiving the intervention. Additionally, PP-PWS parents reported improvements in their own mental wellbeing, reduced inter-parental conflict and greater satisfaction as parents.
Parents Plus Parenting when Separated has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome, but we cannot be confident that the intervention caused the improvement.
| Identified in search | 1 |
| Studies reviewed | 1 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 1 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 0 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 0 |
| Study design | Cluster RCT |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sample characteristics | 161 separated or divorced parents with a child aged 2 to 16 years old |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities | 86.5% Irish |
| Population risk factors |
|
| Timing | Baseline and post-intervention |
| Child outcomes | Reduction in emotional and behaviour problems (parent report) |
| Other outcomes |
|
| Study rating | 2+ |
| Citations | Keating, A., Sharry, J., Murphy, M., Rooney, B. & Carr, A. (2016) An evaluation of the Parents Plus–Parenting when Separated programme. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 21 (2), 240–254. |
No other studies were identified for PP-PWP.
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.
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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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