Core Components

The Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme is a universal group-based prevention programme for parents of children ages 2 – 6 years. The Attentive Parenting Programme is briefer than Incredible Years® Basic Parent Toddler and Preschool Programmes, and is not suitable for children with significant behaviour or developmental problems, or family mental health difficulties. It can be offered after parents have attended the IY Basic Parent Programme as booster sessions to focus more on teaching children self-regulation skills and problem solving, and enhancing social and emotional coaching methods.

This programme is delivered in over 6-8 weekly 2-hour sessions, is clearly operationalised with a comprehensive structured Leaders Manual in which the content of each session is fully described (session protocols) supported by 6 DVDs, weekly home assignments and handouts and a parent book. The IY teaching methods of the sessions are collaborative and parent goal directed and include: (1) video modelling (2) group discussion, problem solving and support (3) role play practice activities within sessions; (4) home practice activities and (5) reading assignments. Parenting strategies and principles learned are tailored for use by parents to address their goals for themselves and according to their children’s development.

Delivery of the programme requires two trained leaders and focuses on six core topics (1) Attentive Child-Directed Play Promotes Positive Relationships and Children’s Confidence (2) Attentive Academic and Persistence Coaching Promotes Children’s Language Skills and School Readiness (3) Attentive Emotion Coaching Strengthens Children’s Emotional Literacy (4) Attentive Social Coaching Promotes Children’s Cooperative Friendships (5) Attentive Imaginative Parenting Interactions Promote Children’s Emotional Regulation Skills (6) Attentive Creative Parent Play Promotes Children’s Problem Solving and Empathy. There is a 4 week protocol for parents of children ages 2-4 years and a 6 week protocol for parents of children ages 4-6 years.

Fidelity

Incredible Years® provides a fidelity of implementation’ framework for sites. The steps required to effectively replicate the programme and achieve good outcomes include use of (1) standardised intervention materials; (2) parent training by accredited group leaders; (3) weekly session protocols and participant evaluations; (4) ongoing group leader supervision, consultation and support by IY coaches or mentors; (5) fidelity monitoring using evidence-based measures and final summative evaluations and (6) agency organisational supports.

Modifiable Components

The programme is a universal programme and it is not suitable for children with significant behaviour or developmental problems, or family mental health difficulties. It can be used as a supplement or follow-up booster to the Basic toddler or preschool parent programmes. There are a range of different video vignettes, some particularly relevant for children 2-4 years old, others for 4-6 years. Group Leaders can select the most appropriate vignettes for their group.

 

Support for Organisation / Practice

Incredible Years® Inc. is based in Seattle and offers a series of inter-locking evidence-based programmes targeting parents, teachers and children. The Incredible Years ® Parent and Babies Programme is one of a suite of IY parenting programmes and teacher programmes.

Implementation Support

Incredible Years® Inc. offers new sites/agencies considering use of any of the IY programs a consultation to answer questions and to discuss suitability of the selected programme for the intended population and implementation goals and needs. During this consultation, guidance relating to the importance of local data collection (baseline and follow-up), selecting the correct group leaders fit and, understanding the level of commitment and involvement needed to deliver the programme effectively is covered. Ongoing consultation or support is available at a cost of $210 per hour.

Incredible Years® Inc. provides agencies with a range of materials to support organisational readiness. These materials include an Administrator Packet & Brand License guide and agreement, an Agency Readiness Questionnaire, Administrator Implementation Pyramid, Fidelity Checklists, Cost Planning Spreadsheet and Evaluation questionnaires.

Licence Requirements

There is no licensing requirement to deliver the Incredible Years® Programmes. However, a Brand License Agreement is needed for use of IY materials on web sites.

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs include an upfront one-off purchase of the Attentive Parenting Programme priced at $1,105 which includes 6 DVDs, Leader’s Manual, Incredible Toddlers and/or Incredible Years® Preschool books, Wally Detective books, Attentive Parenting Poster, stickers and a Refrigerator Magnet. Additional Leader’s Manuals are available for purchase costing between $90.00 plus shipping costs.

Agencies will also need to budget for the cost of the toddler or preschool parent book for each group leader and for all parents who attend training. Cost for one book is $19.95 for Toddler book or $24.95 for parent book for ages 3-8 (bulk order discounts available.)

Group leader training held over 3 days in Seattle is a requirement costing $690 per person. Alternatively, training can also be hosted at the agency site for a cohort of between 15-25 participants with onsite trainer fees of $1730-2100 per day (plus travel, food and lodging costs). Consultation by phone or in person post training for new groups leaders is recommended and is available at $210 per hour.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

IY recommend that Group leaders require a Masters degree as a minimum or a professional diploma in an appropriate field such psychology, social work, education, nursing and psychiatry, have experience working with parents and children and an educational background in child development.

Training Requirements

Group leader training is a requirement and is a 3-day training course delivered in Seattle led by certified/accredited mentors. Training is not delivered in the UK however agencies can purchase training for delivery onsite to a cohort of 15-25 participants.

Supervision Requirements

Consultation and coaching of leaders is highly recommended by Incredible Years® Inc. although not a requirement. The process includes weekly peer review and self-evaluation of videotapes utilizing process checklists, review of videotape feedback by an IY mentor, review of participant weekly evaluations, onsite consultations once or twice per year with an IY trainer and monthly telephone consultations. The cost of consultations with IY mentors or trainers is $210 per hour.

Accreditation of group leaders is highly recommended to promote assurance of fidelity program delivery although not a requirement unless the programme is being used as part of a research project. This process involves attending a 2-3 day workshop and passing a video review of a session and submission of an application packet that includes weekly parent evaluations and session protocols for two groups. The cost of becoming accredited is $600 which includes detailed video reviews (up to 2) and a supervisory report. If additional video reviews are required, these are available at $105 per hour. Highly competent accredited group leaders may be identified for additional training to become an IY Peer Coach in this programme to support new group leaders (which incurs additional costs).

Theory of Change

The Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme is guided by cognitive social learning theory, modelling, attachment, development theories and research. Incredible Years has an explicit logic model – the short term goals for this programme are to (1) promote child competencies (2) promote parent competencies and strengthen families and their support systems. This is overarched by the long-range goals which are to support families to strategically attend and play with their children in ways that promote their language skills, academic readiness, emotional self-regulation, problem solving skills, and attachment and to develop support system for parents that enhance their parenting confidence and understanding of the valuable role they play in promoting their children’s optimal development, thereby affecting their future.

Values

The Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme seeks to develop positive nurturing relationships between parents and their children by increasing children’s social and emotion, problem-solving and anger management skills and to help parents develop effective parenting strategies and to establish developmentally appropriate expectations. 

• Does promoting a positive nurturing relationship to achieve increase social, emotional and problem-solving skills align with the key values of your service/organisation?

Priorities

The Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme has been developed as a universal strategy for parents of children aged 2 – 6 years to support families to strategically attend and play with their children in ways that promote their language skills, academic readiness, emotional self-regulation, problem solving skills, and attachment and to develop support system for parents that enhance their parenting confidence and understanding of the valuable role they play in promoting their children’s optimal development.  

• Is helping parents understand and help develop their child’s behaviour a priority for your organisation?

Existing Initiatives 

• Does your service already provide prevention programmes aiming to improve child development and mental health outcomes?
• Does your area have practitioners trained in delivering the Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme?
• Do you have links with CAMHS, Adult Mental Health Services and Child Protection Services to refer onto if required?

Workforce

To deliver the Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme requires 2 trained leaders (training duration is 3 days) for 1 session per week. There is a 4 session protocol for parents of children ages 2-4 years and a 6 session protocol for parents of children ages 4-6 years. Additionally, leaders will require additional time for preparation, phone calls and potentially home visits. 

• Do you have enough qualified practitioners available to commit to undertake training?
• Do you have enough qualified practitioners available to deliver the programme?

Technology Support

To implement the Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting programme from a technology perspective requires a TV monitor and DVD equipment or computer equipment for USB.

• Do you have access to adequate technology to support practitioners to effectively deliver the technological components of the programme?

Administrative Support

Administrative support is required to recruit parents, receive referrals, collect and report on evaluation data and feedback, print of materials along with co-ordinating and booking of venues, hospitality, transport and childcare.

• Do you have enough administrative capacity and systems to meet these administrative needs?
• Do you have access to facilities to host the parent group?

Financial Support

Start-up costs include purchase of the programme at $1105; and training for two practitioners ($690 pp in Seattle; or as part of a 15-25 person cohort on site $1730-2100, plus travel and subsistence). Post training consultation is available at $210 per hour. If group leaders apply to become certified/accredited additional funding is required.

• Do you have the finances to pay for practitioners to attend the training and any additional costs for group leader text and manuals, consultations, coaching, mentoring and accreditation?

Ongoing costs include purchase of materials ($19.95 per parent for the toddler book, or $24.95 for parent book for ages 3-8) and the provision of a venue, hospitality, transport and childcare to deliver the programme. 

• Are you able to fund the recurring group delivery costs?

Comparable Population 

The Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme is designed as a universal programme for all parents with children aged 2 – 6 years.  

• Is this comparable to the population your organisation would like to serve?
• Does your organisation have existing contacts with parents in this population?
• Are you likely to receive enough referrals for eligible families to populate a recurring programme of Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting groups?

Desired Outcome

Incredible Years® Attentive Parenting Programme is designed to help parents create a secure attachment with their child, reduce negative parenting interactions and prevent child problem behaviours arising, equipping parents with the ability to promote their children’s emotional regulation, social competence, problem solving skills, reading and school readiness. 

• Are the improvements of children’s development, learning and mental health priority outcomes for your organisation?
• Do you have other existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing this need and achieving these outcomes?