The Family Check-Up is an approach to addressing the mental health and behavior of children aged 2-17. The Family Check-Up is a trauma-informed approach to mindful parenting. The model is simple, flexible and can be delivered via an in-person program or via a digital, asynchronous program.
Last reviewed: 2024
Intended Outcomes:
- Improve children's social and emotional adjustment by providing assessment
- Reduce young children's behavior problems at school
- Reduce young children's emotional distress
- Increase young children's self-regulation and school readiness
- Improve parent monitoring in adolescence
- Reduce parent-adolescent conflict
- Reduce adolescent depression
- Reduce antisocial behavior and delinquent activity
- Improve grades and school attendance
Continuum of Care:
Indicated Prevention, Selective Prevention
Topic Areas:
Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Depression, Disruptive Behaviors, Trauma
Ages:
Adult (25+), Young Adult (19-24)
Geographic Locations:
Rural, Urban
Delivery Settings:
Community-Based, School-Based, Virtual
Cultural Considerations:
Significant and well-articulated attention was given to disparities in outcomes
Audience:
This program is for parents/caregivers of children ages 2-17.
Credentials:
The required skill level is master's level (MSW, MS, MA, and M.Ed.) with some clinical experience. Paraprofessionals may be trained as providers; however, this requires more intensive posttraining consultation.
Manuals:
Yes
Is Training Required?
Yes, see developer info
Who can provide the required training?
Northwest Prevention Science: https://www.nwpreventionscience.org
Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website
Program/Practice Website:
https://welcome.thefamilycheckup.com/model/
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:
Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D., Connell, A., Gardner, F., Weaver, C., & Wilson, M. (2008). The Family Check-Up with high-risk indigent families: Preventing problem behavior by increasing parents’ positive behavior support in early childhood. Child Development, 79(5), 1395-1414.
Resnik F, Garbacz SA, Stormshak EA, McIntyre LL. Family-centered prevention to enhance proactive parenting and parental self-efficacy during early elementary school. J Fam Psychol. 2023 Apr;37(3):380-387. doi: 10.1037/fam0001050. Epub 2023 Jan 9. PMID: 36622726.
Van Ryzin, M. J., & Dishion, T. J. (2012). The impact of a family-centered intervention on the ecology of adolescent antisocial behavior: Modeling developmental sequelae and trajectories during adolescence. Development and Psychopathology, 24(3), 1139–1155. https://doi.org/10.1017/
Additional Sources:
WV Rating:
Promising
»WV Ratings Info
Rationale for Rating:
A few studies have been conducted for this program, and those show longitudinal results. while several studies could be found, many are follow-ups to original studies, due to the longitudinal tracking of those results. A majority of this research is conducted solely by the developers, and more outside research is needed. Decreases were found for parent-reported child problem behaviors, parent-reported child externalizing, and maternal depression.
Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified
Other Registries/Ratings
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Well-Supported by Research Evidence
Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Promising
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Promising
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Promising - One study
Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Found on the registry. See link for more information.
Washington State Institute for Public Policy Registry Link:
https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/BenefitCost/Program/380