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| ABSTRACT: The Helping Families Prevent Child Neglect Project was a 5-year demonstration project implemented through collaboration between the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and University of Maryland School of Medicine, Pediatrics. The Helping Families Prevent Child Neglect Project offered home-based intervention to families at risk of neglect in order to test two premises: (1) treatment needs to be long-term and (2) parent groups enable needed connections and enhance parenting competency. Families enrolled in the Helping Families Prevent Child Neglect Project were randomly assigned to intervention groups that varied in terms of length of services (3 months vs. 9 months). Services were provided by the Center for Families Family Connections (FC) program. FC integrated the following nine practice principles in their service delivery: community outreach, family assessment and tailored interventions, helping alliance, empowerment approaches, strengths perspective, cultural competence, developmental appropriateness, outcome-driven service plans, and emphasis on positive attitudes and qualities of helpers. The logic model that guided this evaluation suggests that locating in a high risk community; collaborating with formal and informal community organizations; attending to emergency and concrete needs; and providing individualized, strengths based intervention and social support will increase protective factors and decrease risk factors that will eventually lead to increased child safety and child well being. The study cohort included 154 caregivers and their families within the West Baltimore Empowerment Zone with children who were between the ages of 5 and 11. These caregivers were referred to Family Connections through their local community (schools, clinics, hospitals, community organizations, and self). Results of repeated measures analyses on data collected at intake, case closure, and 6 months following case closure suggested significant change over time for both groups: (1) reduction of risk factors (e.g., parental depressive symptoms, life stress, parenting stress); (2) increase in protective factors (e.g., social support, parenting attitudes, parenting satisfaction); (3) increase in child well-being (decrease in internalizing and externalizing child behavior); and (4) increase in child safety (improvements in physical and psychological care of children). Families who received intervention for 9 months experienced significantly greater change in two domains: parental depressive symptoms and child behavior. However, families who received longer services were somewhat less satisfied with services than families served for shorter periods of time. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
Diane DePanfilis, PhD, MSW
Co-Investigators:
Howard Dubowitz, MD, MS
Esta Glazer-Semmel, LCSW FUNDING SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau AMOUNT OF FUNDING: $650,000 PROJECT DATES: 1996 – 2002 PRODUCTS:
Final Report
DePanfilis, D. (2002). Helping families prevent neglect final report . Study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau 1996-2002 (Grant Number 90CA1580). Baltimore, MD: University of Maryland School of Social Work. Intervention Manual
DePanfilis, D., Glazer-Semmel, E., Farr, M., & Ferretto, G. (1999). Family Connections Intervention Manual, Third Edition. Baltimore, MD: University of Maryland School of Social Work. Refereed Journals: DePanfilis, D., Dubowitz, H., & Kunz, J. (Accepted, October 2007). Assessing the cost-effectiveness of Family Connections. Child Abuse & Neglect. Girvin, H., DePanfilis, D., & Daining, C. (2007). Predicting program completion among at-risk families enrolled in a social work child neglect prevention intervention. Research on Social Work Practice, 17, 674-685. DePanfilis, D., & Dubowitz, H. (2005). Family Connections: A program for preventing child neglect. Child Maltreatment, 10, 108-123. Swanson Ernst, J., Meyer, M., & DePanfilis, D. (2004). The effects of structural characteristics of housing on adequacy of physical child care: An exploratory analysis. Child Welfare, Special Issue on Housing and Homelessness, 83, 437-452 . DePanfilis, D., Okundaye, J., Glazer-Semmel, E., Kelly, L., & Swanson-Ernst, J. (2002). Principles of the strengths perspective: Views from families and providers. Family Preservation Journal , 6(2), 1-14. Harrington, D., Zuravin, S. J., DePanfilis, D., Dubowitz, H., & Ting, L. (2002). The Neglect Scale: Confirmatory factor analysis in a low-income sample. Child Maltreatment , 7, 359-368. Other Publications:
DePanfilis, D. (In press, 2006). Child neglect: A guide for prevention, assessment, and intervention. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect. DePanfilis, D. (2001). Child neglect: The need for differential program strategies. In Morton, T. D., & Salovitz (Eds.). The CPS response to child neglect (pp. 7-1 through 7-34). Duluth, GA: The National Resource Center on Child Maltreatment. DePanfilis, D. (2001). Using research to select interventions and measure outcomes. In Morton, T. D., & Salovitz (Eds.). The CPS response to child neglect (pp. 8-1 through 8-32). Duluth, GA: The National Resource Center on Child Maltreatment. Dubowitz, H. (Ed). Neglected children: Research, practice, and policy . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. DePanfilis, D. (1999). Intervening with families when children are neglected. In H. Dubowitz (Ed). Neglected children: Research, practice, and policy (pp. 211-236) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. DePanfilis, D. & Ernst, J. (1999). Interview Coordinator’s Manual : Specifications for faciliatating research interviews. Baltimore, MD: UMB School of Social Work. Measurements:
Family Connections Integrated Measurements Table
Measurement References Selected Presentations: DePanfilis D. Working with families to enhance protective factors and decrease risk factors: Positive improvements in child behavior. Children Uniting Nations: Keeping the Promise to At-Risk Youth Washington DC Conference, Washington, DC, October 3, 2006. DePanfilis, D. Design, implementation, and evaluation of Family Connections: A program for preventing neglect. Children in a Changing World, Getting it Right – XVI International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect, University of York, United Kingdom, September 3-6, 2006. DePanfilis, D., Hayward, R.A., & Daining, C. The impact of prior CPS reports on the efficacy of a neglect prevention program. 11th International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH, July 9-11, 2006.
DePanfilis, D. Family Connections: Program and research. USDHHS, Children’s Bureau sponsored conference, Evidence Based Practice , Washington, DC, June 29, 2004.
DePanfilis, D., Girvin, H., & Daining, C. The influence of risk and protective factors on motivation to change at intake. Eighth Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research , New Orleans, January 16-19, 2004. Morano, C., Zuravin, S., Harrington, D., & DePanfilis, D. Predictors of caregiver ability to provide for the physical and psychological care of their children. Eighth Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research , New Orleans, January 16-19, 2004. Kunz, J., & DePanfilis, D. Assessing the cost effectiveness of a child neglect preventive intervention. Eighth Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research , New Orleans, January 16-19, 2004. DePanfilis, D. Family intervention strategies to prevent child maltreatment in high risk communities. Social work contributions to public health bridging research and practice in violence prevention and treatment: Lessons from child maltreatment and domestic violence. Meeting sponsored by the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, July 8-9, 2003. DePanfilis, D., & Dubowitz, H. Family Connections: Promoting safety and well-being in families at risk for neglect. 8th International Family Violence Research Conference , July 13-16, 2003. DePanfilis, D., & Dubowitz, H. Increasing safety and well-being of children: Results of a selective prevention intervention. 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research: Research to Policy . Washington, DC, June 11-13, 2003. DePanfilis, D., & Dubowitz, H. Increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors to achieve child safety and well-being outcomes among families at risk for neglect. 17th Annual San Diego Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, San Diego, February 3-7, 2003. DePanfilis, D., & Dubowitz, H. Child neglect: Confronting the challenges. Advanced APSAC Institute, 17th Annual San Diego Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment , San Diego. February 3, 2003. DePanfilis, D., Daining, C., Ting, L., Park, E., & Haynes, K. Increasing safety and well-being for families at risk for child neglect: Preliminary results from a five-year demonstration project. Seventh Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research , Washington, DC, January 16-19, 2003. Ernst, J. S., Meyer, M., & DePanfilis, D. The effects of structural characteristics of housing on adequacy of physical child care: An exploratory analysis. Seventh Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research , Washington, DC, January 16-19, 2003. Koverola, C., Harrington, D., DePanfilis, D. & Daining, C. Increasing social support through an intensive home based child maltreatment intervention program. 14th International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect . Denver, July 7-10, 2002. DePanfilis, D., Daining, C., & Park, E. Outcomes of the helping families prevent child neglect project. 9th Annual Governor’s Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect . Baltimore, April 25-26, 2002. DePanfilis, D., & Glazer-Semmel, E. Child neglect: Promising strategies for early intervention. 10th Annual Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children . New Orleans, May 29-June1, 2002. DePanfilis, D., Daining, C., Park, E., & Haynes, K. Designing and implementing computer assisted interviews. 5th National Child Welfare Data Conference - Making it Work: Using Data for Program Improvement, National Resource Center for Information Technology in Child Welfare . Arlington, VA, April 12, 2002. DePanfilis, D. The state of child neglect research: Past, present and future plenary. Child Neglect: Promising Approaches to Achieve Safety, Permanency and Well-Being, A National Symposium . Baltimore, July 31-August 2, 2001. DePanfilis, D. Identifying intervention strategies and meeting reasonable effort requirements. Child Neglect: Promising Approaches to Achieve Safety, Permanency and Well-Being, A National Symposium . Baltimore, July 31-August 2, 2001. Harrington, D., Zuravin, S. J., DePanfilis, D., Dubowitz, H., & Ting, L. The Neglect Scale: Confirmatory factor analysis in a low income sample. 7th International Family Violence Research Conference . Portsmouth, NH, July 22-25, 2001. DePanfilis, D., & Ting, L. Measuring child welfare outcomes: Safety, well being, and permanency. The Ninth National Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children . Washington, D.C., June 20-23, 2001. Ernst, J.S., DePanfilis, D., Dubowitz, H., & Ting, L. Screening for neglect prevention: Can the community identify families at risk for neglect? Research presentation at the Ninth National Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children , Washington, D.C., June 21, 2001. Glazer- Semmel, E. M., Strengths-based practice: A community speaks. Ninth National Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children , Washington, DC, June 20-23, 2001. DePanfilis, D., Dubowitz, H., & Kelley, S. Working with families to reduce the risk of neglect: Results from two demonstration projects. Faces of change: Embracing diverse cultures and alternative approaches. 13th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect . Albuquerque, April 23-28, 2001. DePanfilis, D., & Ting, L. Applying an outcomes framework to measure the results of prevention and intervention programs. The Governor’s Eighth Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect . Baltimore. April 17, 2001. Glazer- Semmel, E. M. Skills and safety in community-based intervention. The Governor's 8th Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect , Baltimore, MD, April 17, 2001. DePanfilis, D., & Glazer-Semmel, E. Neglect: Targeting outcomes and measuring risk reduction. The Eighth National Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children . Chicago. July 12-15, 2000. DePanfilis, D., Glazer-Semmel, E., & Camp, W. Helping families connect to meet their needs today and tomorrow. Black Administrators in Child Welfare Annual Symposium . Washington, DC, February 28-29, 2000. DePanfilis, D., Swanson Ernst, J., & Glazer-Semmel, E. Back to the future: Measuring the effects of community based practice. National Association for Family-Based Services 13th Annual Empowering Families Conference . Baltimore, December 1-4, 1999. Glazer-Semmel, DePanfilis, D., & Tyler, L. Educating practitioners to work with families in tomorrow’s world. National Association for Family-Based Services 13th Annual Empowering Families Conference . Baltimore, December 1-4, 1999. Glazer-Semmel, E., DePanfilis, D., & Farr, M. Helping families connect to meet their children’s needs. National Association for Family-Based Services 13th Annual Empowering Families Conference . Baltimore, December 1-4, 1999. DePanfilis, D. Targeting outcomes to reduce the risk of neglect. 7th Oklahoma Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect & Healthy Family Oklahoma '99 Conference . Tulsa, OK, September 8-10, 1999. DePanfilis, D. Implementing outcome based intervention to reduce the risk of neglect. The Seventh National Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children . San Antonio. June 2-5, 1999. DePanfilis, D. Structured decision making and risk assessment: Assessing neglect. 12th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect . Cincinnati, November 16-21, 1998. Dubowitz, H., DePanfilis, D., & Glazer-Semmel, E. Developing a neglect prevention project: Bridging research and practice. 12th National Conference on Child Abuse and Ne glect. Cincinnati, November 16-21, 1998. DePanfilis, D., & Dubowtiz, H. Working with families to reduce the risk of neglect. The Sixth National Colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children . Chicago. July 8-12, 1998. DePanfilis, D. Engaging families as partners to reduce the risk of neglect. 14th National Symposium on the Child Sexual Abuse . Huntsville, AL. March 18-20, 1998. Glazer-Semmel, E. The dynamics of change and moving beyond agency based responses. Washington State Symposium on Child Neglect . Seattle. February 5, 1998. DePanfilis, D. Working with families to reduce the risk of neglect. Governor’s Fifth Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect . Baltimore. November 5, 1997. Dubowitz, H. When is it neglect? Governor’s Fifth Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect . Baltimore. November 5, 1997. DePanfilis, D., & Glazer-Semmel, E. Back to the future: Measuring the effects of community based practice. Take Charge of Change – Social Work ’97 . Baltimore. October 4-7, 1997.
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