Parent Training:

Abstract

Although standardized behavioral parent training programs are generally effective, some families do not derive clinically meaningful benefits. This paper reports the results of a school-based remedial program aimed at increasing the programming knowledge and teaching skills of such nonproficient families. Participants were 16 parents who had completed a standardized parent training course but had not met the program's criteria for proficiency. Nine parents received additional action-oriented parent training in conjunction with a 3-week Mini-Camp education program for their retarded children. Seven parents comprised a comparison group. Mini-Camp parents demonstrated significant improvement in knowledge and skills relative to their own performance following standardized training and relative to the performance of comparison group parents. The feasibility of incorporating components of the Mini-Camp training program into ongoing educational programs for retarded children is discussed.