Association for Behavior Analysis International

Parental participation in parent training programs is necessary for success in behavioral parent training. Prior literature has demonstrated probabilistic reinforcement as an effective intervention for improving a wide variety of behaviors. In the present study, a probabilistic reinforcement program (i.e., lottery) was implemented in order to evaluate its efficacy as part of a behavioral parent training program. The behaviors targeted for increase included attendance, participation, homework completion, and performing role plays or completing in-class assignments for2 10 week Tools for Positive Behavior Change courses. Participants earned lottery tickets for each of the dependent measures, and drawings took place at the end of each class. An alternating treatments design was employed to determine any differences in performance on the dependent measures between baseline and lottery sessions. Results showed that participants attended and participated more with parent training under the conditions of a lottery compared to baseline class sessions although the effect was minimal; furthermore, this effect was observed more clearly for1 of the2 classes. Further research is needed to explore the effect of a lottery intervention on parent participation in parent training programs.

Parents with cognitive challenges are at risk for child protective services (CPS) involvement. Children born to parents with intellectual disabilities are at risk for neglect, language delays, and behavioral problems (Feldman, 1994). Two evidence-based parent training programs that have been extended to parents with cognitive challenges are Project SafeCare and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). This presentation will provide outcome data for 20 parents with cognitive challenges who were referred for parent training due to child neglect, inadequate parenting skills, or inadequate behavior management strategies. Families participating in SafeCare did not have physical custody of their children at the beginning of participation. Families participating in PCIT had prior history with CPS, although these families had their children in their custody throughout participation. Outcome data will be presented as the percent of parents who had their children returned to their care or who maintained custody of their children without subsequent CPS involvement. When working with parents involved with CPS, it is important to focus on skill acquisition and to consider family survival, defined as no subsequent CPS involvement.

The purpose of this study is to extend the use of preference assessment methods to child welfare using a Web-based preference assessment system designed for this study. In Study 1, children will complete a computerized 4-point likert-type questionnaire designed to assess preference for different activities and community characteristics. Next, stimuli identified as high preferred (HP) and low preferred (LP) in the questionnaire will be tested using a computerized paired stimulus (PS) preference assessment. To date,2 participants have completed Study 1 and preliminary data suggest correspondence between HP and LP items identified in the questionnaire and tested in the PS assessment. Study 2 evaluates response allocation to stimuli identified as HP and LP in Study 1 in a concurrent arrangement. Preliminary data show correspondence between the results of the computerized preference assessment methods and actual allocation of behavior. Foster parents also will complete Studies 1 and 2 using a modified child questionnaire. Finally, a potential method of systematically matching foster children to different foster parents using the data from Study 1 will be discussed. Collectively, these studies, and the Web-based system designed for this study, attempt to advance routine child welfare practice.