Glossary

Self-assessment

Incredible Years® School Age Basic Programme

The Incredible Years® School Age Basic Programme is a universal group-based prevention programme for parents of children ages 6 - 12 years with indicated behaviour symptoms.

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Evidence

4+

Fit

NYR

Capacity

NYR

Supports

4

Usability

4

Need

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Usability - Rating: 4

Core Components

The Incredible Years® School Age Basic Programme is a universal group-based prevention programme for parents of children ages 6-12 years.

This programme is designed to be delivered as a universal programme over a 12-20 week duration but can also be delivered as a targeted programme for higher risk and treatment population (ADHD or ODD) parents with an increased dosage of 18-22 weeks in duration, each group sessions is 2 hours in length. The programme is clearly operationalised with a comprehensive structured Leaders Manual and Leader Text in which the content of each session is fully described (session protocols) supported by 7 DVDs or USB, weekly home assignments and handouts and a parent book. The IY teaching methods of the sessions are collaborative and parent goal directed and include strategies such as: (1) video modelling (2) group discussion, problem solving and support (3) role play practice activities within sessions (4) home practice activities with children and (5) reading assignments. Parenting strategies and principles learned are tailored for use by parents to address their goals for themselves and their children.

Delivery of the programme requires two trained leaders and focuses on three core topics (1) Promoting Positive Behaviours in School Age Children (2) Reducing Inappropriate Behaviours in School Age Children and, (3) Supporting Your Child’s Education. Parent learn to monitor children after school, set rules regarding TV, computer and drug use, support children’s homework and partner with teachers to promote children’s academic, social and emotional skills.

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 however modifiable components clearly identified include:

• Adjustment to the number of programme sessions depending on the target population whilst ensuring the minimum recommended sessions are achieved.

• Pacing discussions and adjusting the number and relevance of vignettes shown tailoring these according to the knowledge, stress or depression levels of the parents and the developmental status of the children.

• The IY Home Coaching programme may be added as a supplement to the group parent programme for families who need more individualised assistance from leaders who coach parents to practice with their children. Or, for providing the complete programme at home for families who cannot attend parent groups.

The programme has been augmented for children in foster care and families involved in the child welfare system.

The programme is also available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish.

Supports - Rating: 4

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® School Age Basic 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 programmes 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 if IY materials on web sites.

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs include an upfront one-off purchase of the School Age Basic Programme priced at $1,440 which includes 7 DVDs or USB stick, Leader’s Manual, Incredible Years Troubleshooting Guide for Parents, Collaborating with Parents to Reduce Children Behaviour Problems Book for Therapists, Parenting Pyramid Poster and Refrigerator Magnet. Additional Leader’s Manuals are available for purchase costing $90.00 plus shipping costs. Home coaching manuals are a supplemental material to the Basic Curriculum and are $85 per set.

The School Age Basic Programme can also be purchased as a Spanish / English combination pack – cost provided upon request.

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.

Agencies will also need to budget for the cost of the parent book for each group leader and all parents who attend training. Cost for one book is $24.95 (bulk order discounts are available).

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 as therapists and parent educators from psychology, social work, education, nursing and psychiatry and 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. The 3-day Basic Training covers the Toddler Programme, School Age Basic Programme, and Early School Age Basic Programme and is delivered in Seattle led by certified/accredited mentors or in the UK. An extra day of training is required for the home coaching version of the programme. Agencies can also 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 utilising 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).

Evidence - Rating: 4+

Theory of Change

The Incredible Years® School Age Basic Programme is guided by cognitive social learning theory, modelling, attachment, development theories and research. Incredible Years has an explicit parents programme logic model which describes the short-term outcomes as (1) Improved Parenting and Interpersonal Skills (2) Improved Child Behaviour at Home (3) Improved Child Behaviour at School. The programmes longer-term outcomes aim to achieve Reduced Youth Antisocial Behaviour.

Primary school: 6 to 12 years - Rating: 4+

Research Design & Number of Studies

A number of studies (>5) were identified including a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial and numerous programme evaluations conducted both internally and externally. The study populations included children ranging from 3 to 13 years of age.

Outcomes Achieved

Child Outcomes

• Positive impact on parents’ perception of their child’s behaviour (frequency of behavioural problems and number of problematic behaviours). (Bywater, T. et al 2011) (Javier, J.R. 2016) (Letartea, M.J. et al 2010).

• Significant improvements in child behavioural problems (Hutchings, J. et al 2011) and child externalising and total problem behaviours (Javier, J.R. 2016).

• Statistically significant foster carer reported improvement in the intensity of child behaviour and a positive a decrease in the extent to which carers perceived child behaviour as problematic. (McDaniel, B. et al 2011).

• Foster caregiver-reported conduct symptoms signiﬁcantly lower for children whose families participated in the treatment group with a similar trend found for the overall externalising behaviour. (Nilsen, W. 2007).

• Improvements in children’s social competence. (Webster-Stratton, C. & Reid, M.J. 2010).

Parent Outcomes

• Positive impact on parenting practices (harsh discipline, physical punishment, praise/incentive, appropriate discipline and positive verbal discipline). (Bywater, T. et al 2011) (Javier, J.R. 2016) (Letartea, M.J. et al 2010) (Webster-Stratton, C. & Reid, M.J. 2010).

• Statistically significant improvements in parental depression and parenting skills. (Hutchings, J. et al 2011).

• Significant reductions in parenting stress. (Javier, J.R. 2016).

• Demonstrated ability to improve parent-child relationships and to build parents’ own sense of competence and self-control as well as strengthen their supportive family and community networks. (Webster-Stratton, C. & Reid, M.J. 2010).

Key References

Bywater, T., Hutchings, J., Linck, P., Whitaker, C., Daley, D., Yeo, S. T., & Edwards, R. T. (2011). Incredible Years parent training support for foster carers in Wales: A multi-centre feasibility study. Child: Care, Health and Development. 37(2), pp. 233–243.

Hutchings, J., Bywater, T., Williams, M.E., Whitaker, C., Lane, E. & Shakespeare, K. The extended school aged Incredible Years parent programme. (2011). Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 16 (3), pp. 136-143.

Javier, J.R. (2016). Parenting Intervention for Prevention of Behavioral Problems in Elementary School-Age Filipino-American Children: A Pilot Study in Churches. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 37(9). pp.737-745.

Letartea, M.J., Mormandeaub, S., Allardb, J. Effectiveness of a parent training program “Incredible Years” in a child protection service. (2010). Child Abuse & Neglect. 34, pp. 253-260.

McDaniel, B., Braiden, H.J., Onyekwelu , J., Murphy, M. & Regan, H. (2011). Investigating the Effectiveness of the Incredible Years Basic Parenting Programme for Foster Carers in Northern Ireland. Child Care in Practice. 17 (1), pp. 55-67.

Nilsen, W. (2007). Fostering Futures: A Preventive Intervention Program for School-age Children in Foster Care. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 12 (1), pp. 45-63.

Webster-Stratton, C. & Reid, M.J. (2010) Adapting the Incredible Years, an evidence-based parenting programme, for families involved in the child welfare system. Journal of Children’s Services. 5 (1), pp. 25-42.

Self-assessment

Incredible Years® School Age Basic Programme

Compare

Usability Rating

4

Supports Rating

4

Evidence Rating

4+

Fit Rating

NYR

Capacity Rating

NYR

Need Rating

NYR

The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool

The Hexagon can be used as a planning tool to guide selection and evaluate potential programs and practice for use.

Evidence

4+

Fit

NYR

Capacity

NYR

Supports

4

Usability

4

Need

NYR

Primary school: 6 to 12 years - Rating: 4+

Need

Fit

Capacity

Self-assessment

Incredible Years® School Age Basic Programme

Compare

Usability Rating

4

Supports Rating

4

Evidence Rating

4+

Fit Rating

NYR

Capacity Rating

NYR

Need Rating

NYR

The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool

The Hexagon can be used as a planning tool to guide selection and evaluate potential programs and practice for use.

Evidence

4+

Fit

NYR

Capacity

NYR

Supports

4

Usability

4

Need

NYR

Primary school: 6 to 12 years - Rating: 4+

Need

Fit

Capacity

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