Evaluation of Community-Based Support Services for Families of Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

This article presents an evaluation of a multi-element parent and family support intervention for parents of school-aged persons with severe disabilities. Using an experimental design, we compared two randomly assigned groups of parents: one group received a modest level of support consisting of respite care and case management, and the second group received an intensive intervention that consisted of stress management and parenting skills training, support groups, and additional community-based respite care. Separate MANCOVA analyses were conducted for mothers and fathers. Mothers showed significant improvement on measures of depression and anxiety. Further analysis of the data revealed that a significantly greater number of intensive support group members also achieved clinically significant improvement on measures of anxiety and depression. Fathers participated in smaller numbers than mothers. A power analysis revealed large treatment effects for fathers as well as mothers although, due to the small sample size, the results for fathers were significant at p = 0.07. Analyses of 1-year follow-up data revealed that treatment gains maintained for mothers. We discuss the results and limitations of this study in light of current efforts to create family support services nationwide.