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Targeted vs universal provision of support in high-risk communities: comparison of characteristics in two populations recruited to parenting interventions

Judy Hutchings (Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director, Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Gwynedd, UK)
Nia Griffith (Teaching Associate at School of Psychology, Bangor University, Gwynedd, UK.)
Tracey Bywater (Reader in Enhancing Parental Input in Supporting Children's Success in School at Institute for Effective Education, University of York, York, UK)
Margiad Elen Williams (Research Project Support Officer, Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Gwynedd, UK)
Helen Baker-Henningham (Senior Lecturer and Co-Director, Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Gwynedd, UK)

Journal of Children's Services

ISSN: 1746-6660

Article publication date: 9 September 2013

678

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the characteristics of parents and children recruited for two randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) of parenting support in disadvantaged communities in Wales in order to explore the effects of community-based vs individual-based targeting in early prevention.

Design/methodology/approach

Parents from high-risk disadvantaged communities in Wales, where additional early intervention services were targeted as part of a Welsh Government early intervention strategy, were recruited to two RCTs of parenting interventions. In the first study parents of targeted three- and four-year-old children, who were screened, and deemed at risk of long-term problems, were recruited from Sure Start (SS) areas in Wales. In the second study parents of one- and two-year-old children living in disadvantaged Flying Start (FS) areas were recruited, with residence within the FS area being the only recruitment criterion.

Findings

FS areas are more strategically targeted as communities with a greater percentage of families with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage and associated risk than SS areas. Families in the toddler parenting trial based in FS areas, recruited without any additional screening, were experiencing higher levels of socio-economic deprivation, mental health problems and parenting stress as well as other known risks to child outcomes than the general population. However, when compared with the individually targeted population recruited for the SS study, they were shown to be experiencing significantly lower levels of these and other risks factors for poor child outcomes than the sample recruited for the SS trial where recruitment was based on known child risk factors. The paper discusses these findings and explores the implications of targeting by geographical area (community level targeting) alone vs targeting individual families by known risk factors. The findings suggest that screening measures would identify children at greatest risk of poor outcomes and whose families might benefit from additional targeted services. Suggestions for possible screening measures are also made.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to discussion about effective ways of allocating limited resources to best effect.

Keywords

Citation

Hutchings, J., Griffith, N., Bywater, T., Elen Williams, M. and Baker-Henningham, H. (2013), "Targeted vs universal provision of support in high-risk communities: comparison of characteristics in two populations recruited to parenting interventions", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 169-182. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-03-2013-0009

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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