ABSTRACT: The Family Tree is Maryland’s largest private non-profit agency dedicated to strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect. As part of this effort, The Family Tree provides a group-based parenting skills training program targeting high-risk families, many who had an indicated report of child maltreatment. The evaluation utilized administrative data to 1) describe the characteristics of the high-risk families who participated in the group-based parent skills training program (PPP) in Baltimore City over a six year period (2002 to 2007); 2) evaluate the intermediate outcomes for families completing the program, including parenting knowledge and attitudes and self esteem; and 3) evaluate the longer-term outcomes including child safety, stability, and permanency for families who participated in the program, comparing those who completed the program with those who started but did not complete the program. Results are described in the interim and final reports, and summary PowerPoint presentation below. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Diane DePanfilis CO-INVESTIGATOR: Kristen Woodruff
FUNDING SOURCE: The Family Tree AMOUNT OF FUNDING: $30,000 PROJECT DATES: August 2008 – August 2009 Products:
Interim Report (intermediate outcomes): Woodruff, K. (February 2009). Evaluating Outcomes for At-risk Families Participating in The Family Tree's Positive Parenting Program: A Retrospective Study. Interim Report. Report prepared for The Family Tree of Maryland. Final Report (long-term outcomes): Woodruff, K. (August 2009). Evaluating Outcomes for At-risk Families Participating in The Family Tree's Positive Parenting Program: A Retrospective Study. Part II: Long Term Outcomes, Summary and Conclusions. Report prepared for The Family Tree of Maryland.
Summary of Findings (PowerPoint): Woodruff. K. The Positive Parenting Program: Exploration of the Impact of PPP on Intermediate and Long-term Outcomes. TFT Program and Research Committee Board Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2, 2009. | 
