Exploration of Parenting Curriculum Used in Areas of Child Welfare with Specific Review of the Nurturing Parent Curriculum.

Within a fifteen-year timeframe from 1985 to 2000, out-of-home placement rates within the United States nearly doubled from 276,000 in 1985 to more than 543,000 children by 2000. From this point, much concentration has been given to examining why this drastic increase occurred and what strategies have been put in place to combat these numbers (Swan & Sylvester, 2006). This research proposal examines the literature looking at the differing methods of program evaluation and views on what constitutes evidence-based research. Within the results of these findings emerge differing views on the Nurturing Parenting program as meeting evidence-based status. The trauma lens is detailed to provide an understanding of the use of trauma informed practices and how the effort to implement resiliency building approaches have been shown throughout history to be pivotal in reducing the effects of trauma. Additionally, client engagement and the benefit from parent education programing was looked at through the idea of dosage, referring to the duration and depth of program participation. Ongoing research is recommended and suggested study parameters outlined to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nurturing Parent curriculum within the fourteen-session format, on reducing the likelihood of abuse and/or neglectful parenting for clients in Northern Michigan.
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