Table.
Examples of evidence-based interventions for strengthening families
| Age group | Description and evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Home visiting | Newborn to 3 years | A series of home visits for 1–3 years, often accompanied by referral and assessment; shows positive effects in reducing reports of child abuse and neglect, although results are inconsistent122 |
| Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up intervention (ABC) | 6 months to 4 years | Short-term intervention for stable families focused on parent–child interaction, including for children who have experienced neglect or institutional care, and foster families123 |
| Video-feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) | 1–6 years | Short-term intervention focused on parent–child interaction, for children with or at risk for behaviour problems; there are adapted modules for children with autism spectrum disorder (VIPP-AUTI) and adoptive and foster care families (VIPP-FC)124 |
| Parenting programmes | 3–17 years | Short-term interventions shown to be effective in reducing child behavioural problems, even when used in different contexts, with modest reductions in harm markers of child physical abuse125, 126 |
| Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) | 4–7 years | Short-term intervention for both parents and children together; shows some of the most consistent evidence in improving outcomes associated with physically abusive behaviour127 |
| The Friendship Bench | Adults | Short-term psychological intervention to treat common mental health problems, delivered by lay health workers128 |
| The Healthy Activity Program (HAP) | Adults | Short-term psychological intervention for depressed parents, delivered by lay counsellors129 |
| Pause programme | Adults | 18-month individualised package of support, access to contraception, and referral to partner organisations (such as health and domestic violence prevention) for women who have experienced or are at risk of repeat removal of children from their care130 |
| Cash-plus-care programmes | Adults | Programmes that combine access to social protection schemes and cash assistance for economically vulnerable families, combined with family strengthening interventions such as parenting skills development, savings and financial planning, and support groups; ideally supported with case management131, 132, 133 |