Family circle

Working with troubled families is a target area for current government policy. The Department for Education has published a report on family interventions, an intensive, multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour, worklessness and intergenerational disadvantage. An evaluation of the Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinder compares the effectiveness of 3 parenting programmes over a 2 year period. This large scale trial involved families over 18 local authorities, using the Incredible Years, Triple P and Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities programmes. A study published in BMC Health Services Research models the cost-effectiveness of parenting programmes designed to prevent conduct disorder.