Exploring research evidence

Using evidence in your practice means families can benefit from the best available knowledge when they seek support. Research evidence helps identify which programs are effective, which methods get the best outcomes and which assumptions are helpful. All Healthy Start resources are informed by evidence from research and practice.

You can view the topics below for research references, abstracts, summaries and reports.

Library of References and Abstracts

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References and Abstracts database

This database is a regularly updated list of journal articles, books and reports relevant to supporting parents with learning difficulties. To increase access to the research results reported in these publications, key articles have been selected and summarised below.

Research Summaries

Healthy Start acts as a bridge between research (what we know can work well) and practice (using what we know well). The summaries of selected research below are designed to provide research findings in a non-academic manner.

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Research Summary: Contextual Fit - Success of Parent Education Intervention

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Research Summary: Effectiveness of Parent Training Interventions

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Research Summary: Women with cognitive impairment and unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

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Research Summary: Family home visiting outcomes for mothers with and without intellectual disabilities.

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Research Summary: Secondary analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect

Assessment of parents with learning difficulties

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Maurice Feldman and Marjorie Aunos's 2011 book Comprehensive Competence-Based Parenting Assessment for Parents with Learning Difficulties and their Children details parenting capacity assessment approaches and provides a thorough description of best practice in assessment. Purchase orders may be directed to the publisher, NADD.

Order Feldman & Aunos (2011)

Design and implementation of effective supports for parents with learning difficulties

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In 2003, the Parenting Research Centre (formerly Victorian Parenting Centre), published a paper which describes the major practitioner tasks regarding parents with learning difficulties, as well as practical strategies that have proven effectiveness. The full text is available to download:

Understanding and Supporting Parents with Learning Difficulties

Protective services system

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Statistics tell us that families headed by parents with learning difficulties are over-represented in the child protection system. In 2000, the University of Sydney compiled a report based on court document reviews, interviews and focus groups, and court observations. The full text presents a detailed account of why this over-representation occurs. It is available to download:

NSW Children's Court Study

 

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