Valuing Parent Education A Cornerstone of Child Abuse Prevention

arenthood, described by one author as the 'last stand of the amateur' (Koller 1974, as cited in Warren 1983a), is the one occupation common to the majority of the adult population for which no training or educational qualification is required. The underlying societal assumption is that child-rearing skills and feeling protective towards children are natural and instinctive (Bowlby 1971, as cited in Corby 1993), requiring no additional instruction. Clearly, most children are well cared for by their parents, although there are periods and occasions in the lives of most parents when extra help and support is needed to assist them to care for their children (Smith 1997). There are, however, some children for whom a parent's 'instinctive' desire to protect is unrealised, or for whom support is not forthcoming; these children become exposed to the risk of child maltreat-ment 1 (Tomison 1996c). Over two decades ago, Mercer (1974) criticised western societies for vener-ating motherhood while generally abandoning 'inexperienced, isolated and weakened young mother(s)' to the rigours of first parenthood. One strategy subsequently developed to assist parents to maintain an adequate standard of parenting has been to offer some form of education or training which can provide parents with information about the difficulties they will face as parents as well as the skills they need to parent effectively and enhance their access to social supports (Reppucci, Britner & Woolard 1997). The provision of parent education in a variety of forms has become a cornerstone for working with 'at risk' and maltreating families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. Parent education is currently advocated as a significant component of any comprehensive set of preventative services for parents at high risk of abusing or neglecting their children (Dubowitz 1989; Chalk & King 1998). This paper provides an overview of parent education and the various forms it may take, in conjunction with a summary of what is known about the effectiveness of parent education interventions. Finally, the role of parent education is discussed within the context of its role in a holistic framework of prevention. Most children are well cared for by their parents, although there are times in the lives of most parents when extra help and support is needed to assist them to care for their children. The provision of parent education in a variety of forms has become a cornerstone for supporting parents in general, and for working …