Parents Anonymous^®: New Research Results
Demonstrating Evidence-Based Program
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As the nation’s premier family strengthening program dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, Parents Anonymous^® has helped millions of parents and their children in neighborhoods all across America creating positive long term changes in their lives. Parents Anonymous^® Groups serve mothers, fathers, grandparents and caregivers in community centers, schools, religious institutions, and childcare centers in partnership with public and private agencies involving thousands of volunteers.

We are pleased to announce the exciting results of the new National Outcome Study of Parents Anonymous^® conducted by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. This ground-breaking longitudinal study is the only independent outcome research conducted nationwide to assess the impact of parent mutual support-shared leadership groups on child maltreatment prevention. This research includes a national representative sample of diverse parents new to Parents Anonymous^® who participated over a six month period. All of this evidence is based on standardized scales measuring key child maltreatment outcomes, risk and protective factors. Moreover, a comparison group was utilized to measure the difference in outcomes between parents who did and those who did not attend Parents Anonymous^®.

Results for Parents who participated in Parents Anonymous^®:

• 73% of Parents decreased their Parenting Distress
• 65% of Parents decreased their Parent Rigidity
• 56% of Parents reduced any form of Psychological Aggression towards their children
  
• For those parents who reported any form of Physical Aggression 83% stopped physically abusing their children
  

Reduced Risk Factors

• 66% of Parents reduced their Parental Stress
• 71% of Parents reduced their Life Stressors
• 40% of Parents reduced any form of Domestic Violence
• 32% of Parents reduced their Drug/Alcohol Use
  

Increased Protective Factors

• 67% of Parents improved their Quality of Life
• 65% of Parents increased their Social Support
• 52% of Parents improved their Sense of Parenting Competence
• 56% of Parents employed Nonviolent Discipline Strategies
• 53% of Parents improved their Family Functioning
  

Conclusions

• Parents who continued to attend Parents Anonymous^® Groups over time showed improvement in Child Maltreatment Outcomes, Risk and Protective Factors compared to those who dropped out.
• Strong evidence suggests that parents benefit and strengthen their families through Parents Anonymous^® regardless of the participant’s race, gender, education or income.
• Participants reported that they shared a sense of purpose, belonging and community and were able to give and get help from other parents.

Parents Anonymous^® Inc.
675 W. Foothill Blvd., Suite 220, Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: 909-621-6184, x207; Fax: 909-625-6304 Website: www.parentsanonymous.org © 2007 Parents Anonymous^®