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Description
The project " Positive parenting program Czech Republic „Triple P“ " aims to fill the gap in the mental health care for children. There isn’t any established program improving parenting skills in the Czech Republic that is evidence based and provides evaluation of its effectiveness through measurable results. This is particularly alarming in relation to the fact that the mental state of school-age children is strongly linked to the way parents raise their children. To improve parenting skills, the project aims to implement the Triple P program. It is a universal prevention program designed to increase parenting'' skills and confidence in order to avoid serious behavioural and emotional problems in children. The Triple P program comprises of five intensity levels. The project will implement Level 1 focused on destigmatization of parents, who ask for help, raising awareness of parenting questions and of the program via the media campaign and Level 4 focused on training of positive parenting approach in parents having children with mild and moderate behavioural problems.
Summary of project results
The Czech Republic has not sufficiently implemented and integrated a comprehensive approach of support for families to ensure a happy family life as the best foundation for the mental health of children and adolescents. To date, there has been no evidence-based comprehensive programme dedicated to prevention and intervention of behavioural disorders in children. The biggest challenge has been to enter into an international agreement with Triple P and to translate the Triple P program into Czech.
At the beginning of the project, the complete Triple P methodology was translated into Czech (training materials, presentations, videos, implementation materials, study materials, books for parents, tipsheets,...).
Within the project, pilot centres were continuously selected and equipped to deliver the Triple P programme.
Evaluation of the programme by Triple P and evaluation of the project by an internal evaluator was ongoing.
Ongoing marketing support was provided to both the centres and trainers, as well as PR at the central level towards the public (magazine articles, website, social networks, participation in conferences, implementation of own conferences, creation of promotional materials and printed materials, issuance of press releases, etc.).
A professional publication on evidence-based programmes has been published.
All activities led to the fulfilment of the project objectives, but especially to the establishment of the Triple P programme in the Czech Republic.
The main outputs are the transfer of TP programme in CZ, 55 trainers from 20 centres and information campaigns. Increased support for children''s mental health and wellbeing through the provision of the Triple P group intervention to over 600 carers. Support has been provided by accredited Triple P trainers who report improvements in their competencies. Caregivers report overall satisfaction, the opportunity to share problems with other parents, and to learn new parenting strategies.
The competence of professionals has been increased, the support of education has been destigmatized, parents have reported a reduction in problematic behaviour of children and there has been an increase in awareness of the necessary support for parents in coping with the upbringing of children. In the long term, these benefits are expected to be sustained as the delivery of the Triple P programme by tutors and centres continues and a follow-up project from the EU funds is also underway.
Summary of bilateral results
The project team continuously communicated with the partner''s representative (online and during personal visits). The areas of evaluation setup, data collection, data evaluation, sustainability of the program in the Czech Republic, dissemination of awareness about the program, etc. were mainly addressed.The involvement of a partner in the project was important, as the Ministry of Health had no experience in transferring evidence-based programs to the Czech environment. The partner shared experiences with the implementation of parenting programs and with the evaluation of their effectiveness.In collaboration with a partner, a professional publication entitled Supporting Parents, Families and Couples Based on Evidence-Based Programs was created. The partner provided two contributions to this publication.The partner''s representative also presented at the opening and closing conferences of the project.