2014 jenn mcintosh young children in divorce and separation piloting a new fdr intervention

J.E. McIntosh, 2014

Na4onal Media4on Conference Melbourne, September 2014 [email protected]

JENNIFER MCINTOSH , PH .D . L a T r o b e U n i v e r s i t y , M u r d o c h C h i l d r e n ’ s R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e

& F a m i l y T r a n s i t i o n s

YOUNG CHILDREN IN DIVORCE AND SEPARATION (YCIDS) PILOTING A NEW FDR INTERVENTION

A s t u d y c o n d u c t e d w i t h C a t h o l i c C a r e N S W

THE QUESTIONS

•  Too young for child inclusive mediation models.. •  How to support separated

parents to make developmentally supportive parenting plans in FDR?

•  How to equip FDR with good tools for the task?

•  Evidence based education…

J. McIntosh 2014

© McIntosh 2014 3

YCIDS is based on the premise that there is real freedom to a childhood that is resourced and supported by ‘good enough’ paren.ng, whether parents are together or not.

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


© McIntosh 2014 4

How can two parents living apart, often working and using extra childcare sources, create a sturdy foundation that the baby can take for granted? How would they know if their baby was too stressed? How can separated parents’ support their baby’s successful adaptations to the world around them?

STUDY AIMS

•  To refine a model of developmental consultation (YCID) for FDR, for separated parents who have a child under 5 years •  To test the model against a reading

based intervention •  Explore efficacy of both treatment

models re helping parents to •  A) better understand early

developmental needs & •  B) make developmentally supportive

parenting plans in FDR.

J. McIntosh 2014

YCID INTERVENTION

•  A set of educational materials for parents •  Given as a structured story

and a tailored conversation

Tapping the Research Base See Family Court Review 2014 •  M. Pruett, J. McIntosh, J. Kelly •  J. McIntosh, M. Pruett,J. Kelly

J. McIntosh 2014

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


Family Transitions ©2014

The Big 5 Topics The topics covered here are these:

1.  What’s so BIG about the little years?

2.  Being “good-enough” parents, who live apart

3.  Young children and parenting plans

4.  Children need a village

5.  Parenting Bridges: Sorting out the conflict

THE YCID CONSULTATION PROCESS

•  The process…

1.  YCID session is run by a CC, with both parents together, early in mediation process.

2.  Is engaging, educative, supportive, respectful and consultative. •  supports parents to share uncertainties and questions •  does not veer into counselling mode.

3.  Avoids assumptions and recipes/formulas about “what is right” for young children. •  Attends to the unique nature of each case

J. McIntosh 2014

THE YCID CONSULTATION PROCESS

The process…

4.  CC and FDR look for right pace, balance and amount of information for the case

5.  The Child Consultant offers information and views BUT decision making remains the parents’.

6.  Referrals for subsequent counselling and consultation can be made whenever necessary.

J. McIntosh 2014

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


STUDY DESIGN

• Reading Group Control (MR): •  Mediation as usual •  Take home reading

“Because It’s For the Kids” •  Zero to Three materials

•  Intervention Group (YCID): •  Mediation as usual •  Take home reading

“Because It’s For the Kids”

•  YCID intervention – PP & 60mins discussion with trained child consultant (CC)

•  Take home YCID Booklet

J. McIntosh 2014

TRAINING

• All FDRPs & Child Consultants •  a 4-month reading and discussion program about

early developmental issues. •  Research process training

• Child Consultants only: •  a 2-day introductory training program on YCIDS •  Further 2 days on skill development

• YCID FDRPs •  ½ day familiarity program •  Research training

J. McIntosh 2014

METHODOLOGY

1.  Once FDR agreed, all parents with child under 5 years approached by FDR to participate

2.  Informed consent (La Trobe University Ethics) 3.  Random allocation to YCID or MR – determined by the

FDRP to whom the case is allocated 4.  Consenting parents completed:

1.  Pre-intervention questionnaire: 2.  Follow-up questionnaire/interview 3 months after intervention: 3.  At T2, parents still do not know which intervention they were in.

5.  FDRPs completed: 1.  Post-mediation feedback questionnaire 2.  Focus group following the completion of recruitment

J. McIntosh 2014

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


DATA AND SOURCES

Mother & Father Pre and Post Reports •  Child’s behavioural

adjustment •  Parent’s coping & sensitivity •  Parent cooperation &

acrimony •  Legal action •  Time spent with child •  Satisfaction with parenting

plan x 10 •  Monitoring arrangements

for fit with the child •  Adapting arrangements as

needed

Mediator’s Reports (post) •  Completion of

agreements (full, partial, none)

•  Agreed parenting plan •  Apparent impact of the

interventions •  Other qualitative

feedback

J. McIntosh 2014

RECRUITMENT

•  Participants recruited from 6 CatholicCare offices in NSW (I FRC, 5 FDR services) August 2012 -June 2013

•  33 children at T2: 15 MR, 18 YCID

J. McIntosh, S. Tan, B. Bolt 2013

CHILDREN

•  Thirty-three young children reported on •  Mean age: 34mths (MR grp) & 29mths (YCID grp)

Ages at Mediation MR YCID Total Infants 0-2 6 9 15 Toddlers 2-4 years 3 4 7 Pre-schoolers 4-5 years 6 5 11 Total 15 18 33

J. McIntosh 2014

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


PARENTS

•  Majority of parents: •  Had been married to other parent (50%) •  Had previously lived with other parent (88%) •  Had not re-partnered since separating from other parent

•  Family Violence : •  1 had current Court Order about parenting arrangement •  1 had Child Protection report made previously

•  14% had current violence intervention/restraining order against either parent

•  21.1% mothers and 13.3% fathers reported that they were frightened of or concerned for their own safety because of the other parent.

J. McIntosh 2014

PARENTS: DEMOGRAPHICS

•  No significant differences between groups •  Majority of parents: •  30s (31.3yrs for mothers, 39.9yrs for fathers) •  English as first language •  Born in Australia •  In full-time paid employment (fathers) & part-time casual

employment (mothers) •  Trade/TAFE certificate •  Average w/kly income <$500 (mothers) ; $500-2000 (fathers) •  Living in rented accommodation, Had health care cards •  Lived <20km away from other parent •  Mean time since physical separation: 15 months

J. McIntosh 2014

MEDIATION OUTCOMES

•  75% completed, with full or partial agreements •  FDRP’s: no group differences in complexity of cases, mental

health, substance abuse, or rates of agreement

Legal action at T2 (parent report) •  6 out of 12 MR cases, 1 out of 12 YCID cases.

J. McIntosh 2014

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


PARENTING WELLBEING

At T2: •  No group differences in

acrimony •  compared to MR

mothers, YCID mothers report fewer major worries about how they had been coping in past 3 months relative to T1 reports

J. McIntosh 2014

MOTHER’S FEEDBACK ON PARENTING PLAN AT T2

YCID mothers significantly more likely than MR mothers to report: •  Their plan is a good way for their young child(ren) to be living. •  Their plan keeps the daily stress low for their child(ren). •  Their child(ren) feel safe & secure living this way. •  Their plan is practical. •  Parents know how to tell if the arrangements are working for

their child(ren).

•  Trends (.08): •  Parents cooperate and make the plan

work well for their child(ren). •  Their plan allows their child(ren) to spend

some time with other people they love.

J. McIntosh 2014

FATHER’S THOUGHTS ON CURRENT PARENTING PLAN AT T2

•  YCID fathers were more likely than MR fathers to report that: •  They as parents

cooperate and make the plan work well for their child(ren).

•  They know how to tell if the arrangements are working for their child(ren).

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


PILOT LIMITATIONS

Key strengths: •  Random allocation to 1 of 2 treatment conditions •  Repeated measures data from mothers and

fathers with additional data from FDRPs

Key limitations: •  Small numbers •  Power of analyses reported is

therefore low

J. McIntosh 2014

CONCLUSIONS

Pilot study numbers still small and conclusions about efficacy cannot be drawn yet… But given: 1) The random allocation design, and 2) All markers of change are in the direction of the YCID group… Replication studies are worthwhile and underway.

J. McIntosh 2014

NEW LOOK YCIDS

•  ONLINE PROGRAM FOR PARENTS

J.E. McIntosh, 2014


Family Transi4ons ©2014

YCIDS is a supportive education program for separated parents,

who are trying to figure out how best to care for their young child (0-4 years),

while living apart.

� Think about your little child: what’s it like to be them?


The YCID material will help you to:

� Consider important information about early development

� Make developmentally supportive parenting plans

� Be successfully separated co-parents for your child

J.E. McIntosh, 2014



The Big 5 Topics The topics covered here are these:

1.  What’s so BIG about the little years?

2.  Being “good-enough” parents, who live apart

3.  Young children and parenting plans

4.  Children need a village

5.  Parenting Bridges: Sorting out the conflict

YCIDS WILL BE AVAILABLE LATE 2014… SEE WWW.FAMILYTRANSITIONS.COM.AU

2014 jenn mcintosh young children in divorce and separation piloting a new fdr intervention

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