Motala

Researchers are evaluating the Parenting Young Children (PYC) program, a home-based parenting support designed for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) who face risks of child neglect. The study focuses on parents with conditions such as intellectual disability, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder, who have children aged 0 to 9 years living at home and require tailored parenting support. The goal is to assess how PYC improves parenting skills compared to usual social services, addressing a need for evidence-based programs that support family preservation and children's rights in this vulnerable group. The PYC program involves weekly one-hour sessions conducted at home over at least six months. It includes two main modules: Parent-Child Interaction, which enhances responsiveness and prosocial behavior, and Child Care Skills and Safety, which focuses on home safety and caregiving tasks like food, health, and hygiene. Each parent receives a customized checklist to guide the intervention. The study compares PYC to Treatment as Usual (TAU), which consists of various social service supports such as counseling, practical help, skills training, and compensatory strategies, delivered in different formats including home-based or group settings. Participants will be evaluated before and after the intervention and followed up six months later. The main measure is improvement in parenting skills based on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Secondary outcomes include parental confidence and children's wellbeing. Researchers will also conduct interviews with parents and children receiving PYC to understand their experiences. The study design is a multi-center, non-randomized comparison due to ethical concerns with randomization in this group, ensuring careful monitoring of progress and outcomes over time.