Child maltreatment is a significant public health
problem best addressed through evidence-based parent-
support programs. There is a wide range of programs with
different strengths offering a variety of options for families.
Choosing one single evidence-based program often limits
the range of services available to meet the unique needs of
families. This paper presents findings from a study to
examine the systematic braiding of two evidence-based
programs, Parents as Teachers and SafeCare at Home
(PATSCH), with the goal to provide a more robust inter-
vention for higher risk families. A cluster randomized
effectiveness trial was conducted to examine if PATSCH
improved parenting behaviors known to decrease the risk
for child maltreatment compared to Parents as Teachers
(PAT) Alone. Parents (N = 159; 92 PAT Alone; 67
PATSCH) were enrolled to complete a baseline, 6-month
and 12-month assessment. Results indicate the groups did
not differ on number of environmental hazards in the home,
parents’ health care decision-making abilities, child abuse
potential, and physical assault over time. However, with
regard to the potential for child abuse, the PATSCH group
showed a decrease in nonviolence discipline and increase in
psychological aggression compared to the PAT group.

EB00000003265K

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• Braiding Two Evidence-Based Programs for Families At-Risk: Results of a Cluster Randomized Trial