Recruitment and screening

It is important that programs are delivered to the intended participant group, through targeted recruitment and screening practices.

How can it be implemented?

Recruitment and screening activities include recruiting participants through channels and populations that access the target groups, such as those already involved in child welfare services, or via paediatrics practices. Screening of families that intend to participate in the program is another such activity and can be done through standardised assessment tools. Note that in the studies identified, recruitment and screening were often done for the purposes of the research study, rather than solely to ensure that participants are in target group for the purpose of family engagement.

Who is the target group?

This flexible activity has been implemented to target several different target groups in all programs. See below for details by program. In the studies that were found through this review, the study explained how participants had been recruited for the study, but not necessarily for the intervention.

What programs conduct this activity?

This flexible activity has been implemented with target different groups, including:

Johns Hopkins Children and Youth Program, Relief Nursery Program, Safe Environment for Every Kid: First time mothers who are vulnerable in some way, for example young mothers, single mothers, and families of low socioeconomic status.

Nurse-Family Partnership: Families experiencing vulnerability - young mothers, single mothers, and families of low socioeconomic status.

Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program: Aboriginal mothers in Central Australia.

Right@Home: Families assessed as being likely to benefit from a prevention service.

Pride in Parenting: African American mothers who have not accessed adequate prenatal care.

Parents as Teachers, SafeCare, Promoting First Relationships: Families with prior contact with child welfare services, or who have been reported for alleged child abuse or neglect.

Family Support Program, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, The Incredible Years Preschool BASIC Parenting Program Enhanced with Home Visits, The Incredible Years Shortened Basic Version: Children who showed signs of social behavioural problems; and/or had difficulties with socio-emotional or cognitive development.

Family Support Program:  Parents who lack parenting skills.

ParentCorps: Culturally diverse communities.

Parent training program: Low-income Chinese families in Hong Kong.

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancements in Primary Care: Families with children with behavioural concerns who might be at risk for maltreatment.

Group Attachment-Based Intervention: Mothers at risk of maltreating their children because of a heavy trauma burden, mental health challenges, or prior removal of a child.

Further resources