Enhancing Early Parenting in the Community: Preliminary Results from a Learning Collaborative Approach to Scale Up Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up

Citation

Appleyard Carmody, Karen; Murray, Kathryn J.; Williams, Breanna; Frost, Allison; Coleman, Cheri; & Sullivan, Kelly (2023). Enhancing Early Parenting in the Community: Preliminary Results from a Learning Collaborative Approach to Scale Up Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up. Infant Mental Health Journal, 44(6), 752-766.

Abstract

Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) is a promising home-visiting intervention promoting sensitive caregiving and secure parent-child attachment in families with young children. The goal of this study was to examine a learning collaborative approach to disseminating ABC in a community setting. Training outcomes (e.g., trainee completion, satisfaction, effectiveness of training methods) and intervention outcomes (e.g., parent behavior, parent beliefs, child socioemotional development) were examined. Eighteen practitioners participated in the ABC learning collaborative; 13 completed training. Quantitative and qualitative measures indicated that trainees were satisfied with their experience and valued the unique collaboration opportunities offered by the learning collaborative. In addition, trainees served 67 families in the community, 37 of whom completed all sessions of ABC. The study was conducted in the United States. Racial demographics of the children in the sample included: 56.7% White, 22.4% Black/African-American, 17.9% Bi- or Multi-racial, and 3.0% unknown. Regarding ethnicity, 80.6% were Non-Hispanic/Latino, 10.4% were Hispanic/Latino, and 9.0% were unknown. Caregivers who completed ABC showed more sensitive parenting behavior and reported positive changes in their perceived self-efficacy and their beliefs around infant crying. Children who received ABC showed increased socioemotional functioning. Results demonstrate successful dissemination of ABC in the community using a learning collaborative approach.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/imhj.22081

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2023

Journal Title

Infant Mental Health Journal

Author(s)

Appleyard Carmody, Karen
Murray, Kathryn J.
Williams, Breanna
Frost, Allison
Coleman, Cheri
Sullivan, Kelly

Article Type

Regular

ORCiD

Frost - 0000-0003-4636-7687