Topic: Parenting, Behavioral Problems
Target Population: Parents
Sector: Community-Based
Military Sector: Army
This program is delivered to parents of children who are 5 to 12 years old and is intended to impact parents and children.
Active Parenting 4th Edition, a community-based program, is a revision of the Active Parenting Now program and is designed to develop and strengthen parenting skills and improve parent-child relationships and child functioning.
A previous version of this program was placed as Unclear +. However, no peer-reviewed publications evaluating the effectiveness of Active Parenting 4th Edition were located.
This video-based program is delivered in a group setting. Parents meet, watch videos, participate in activities, and discuss program materials over the course of six sessions. Sessions cover the following:
Homework assignments are provided after each session to help parents apply their knowledge and skills at home. The program is available in several formats, including video and discussion, video library, and as an online class.
The original Active Parenting program was first implemented in 1983 and was implemented by the Army Community Services Family Advocacy Program. Several revisions to the program have been made over the years, and approximately 20,000 sites have utilized the various program versions to reach over 2.5 million parents. The program has also been used internationally in Canada, Japan, Korea, and Sweden.
This program is facilitated by a leader who has a background in mental health or education. Training is not required but is recommended. Training options include live webinars, online classes, in-person workshops, training of trainers, and custom training. Please visit https://activeparenting.com/for-leaders/research-studies-tools-and-tests/leader-training/ for more information.
Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting participants and a facilitator and offering the facilitator the opportunity to complete training, finding space to offer the program, obtaining a TV and DVD player or computer and ensuring internet service is available, and offering child care during sessions.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing Active Parenting 4th Edition, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
This program may be implemented in 1, 3, 4, or 6 sessions. The complete program can be delivered in weekly, 2-hour classes for 6 weeks. Alternatively, a 3- to 4-session class can be delivered for core Active Parenting skills (Sessions I-III or Sessions I-IV), or a 1-session unit can be delivered on parent engagement skills to build school success (Session VI only).
The Jump Start Package costs $899, and the Standard Kit costs $599. Please visit https://activeparenting.com/product/active-parenting-4th-edition-program-kit/ for more information.
To move Active Parenting 4th Edition to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation of the most recent version should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least six months from program completion.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu.
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 or Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu.
You may also contact Active Parenting USA Headquarters by mail 1290 Kennestone Circle, Suite D-101, Marietta, GA 30066-6022, phone 1-800-825-0060, email cservice@activeparenting.com, or visit https://activeparenting.com/
Fashimpar, G. A. (2001). Problems of parenting: Solutions of science. Journal of Family Social Work, 5(2), 67-80. https://doi.org/10.1300/J039v05n02_06
Foley, Y. C., Popkin, M., Mullis, F., & Cooper, P. J. (2019). Active Parenting Now and Active Parenting of Teens: An evaluation of two neo-Adlerian parenting programs. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 75(4), 272-286. https://doi.org/10.1353/jip.2019.0017
Mullis, F. (1999). Active Parenting: An evaluation of two Adlerian parent education programs. Individual Psychology, 55(2), 225.
