Iowa Parent Partner Approach

The Iowa Parent Partner Approach pairs “Parent Partners” with parents whose children have been removed from the home. It also pairs Parent Partners with parents who can only reside with their children under special conditions set by the courts. Parent Partners are parents who were formerly involved with the child welfare system and who have achieved reunification with their children. They are selected based upon their interpersonal skills, successes, and proven ability to overcome obstacles. To be eligible, Parent Partners must have maintained reunification with their children for at least 1 year. Parent Partners mentor eligible families by providing social support, offering guidance on how to navigate the process of reunification, and working with social workers and other professionals to ensure the family is getting needed resources. The goal is to support reunification and reduce recurrence of child maltreatment.

Iowa Parent Partner Approach is rated as a promising practice because at least one study achieved a rating of moderate or high on study design and execution and demonstrated a favorable effect on a target outcome.

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Dec 2020

Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information was informed by the following sources: The California Evidence-based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, the program or service developer’s website, the program or service manual, and the studies reviewed.

This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.

Target Population

The Iowa Parent Partner Approach targets parents whose children (birth to 17 years old) have been removed from the home. It also targets parents who can only reside with their children under special conditions set by the courts (e.g., after receiving substance use treatment).

Program or Service Delivery and Implementation

Dosage

The frequency of visits between parents and Parent Partners varies over time. Initially, Parent Partners meet with parents for about 4 face-to-face visits per month. Parent Partners may also contact parents via phone between visits. Parent Partners typically meet less frequently with parents after 2 to 3 months, as the family works through their case plan. This varies depending on family need and is determined in consultation with the family’s case coordinator.

Location/Delivery Setting

Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

Iowa Parent Partners Approach is delivered in the home and in community settings.

Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research

Home
Community Settings

Education, Certifications and Training

Parent Partners must complete 6 required training modules before meeting with families. These trainings cover topics such as mandatory reporter responsibilities, boundaries and safety issues, an overview of the Department of Human Services, and confidentiality. Parent Partners must also complete 5 supplemental trainings within 1 year of starting with the Parent Partner Approach. Supplemental trainings cover topics such as domestic violence, mental health, cultural competency, and substance abuse. Parent Partners participate in monthly support groups facilitated by a licensed mental health clinician to identify triggers and learn skills to address issues that arise with partner families.

Program or Service Documentation

Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

Iowa Department of Human Services. (2018). Iowa Parent Partner Approach handbook: Governing philosophy, policy, & protocol.

Available languages

Iowa Parent Partner Approach materials are available in English and Spanish.

Other supporting materials

Parent Partner Information for Contractors

Parent Partner Information for Families

For More Information

Website: https://dhs.iowa.gov/parent-partners

Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Extent of Evidence

Results of Search and Review	Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Iowa Parent Partner Approach
Identified in Search	1
Eligible for Review	1
Rated High	0
Rated Moderate	1
Rated Low	0
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm	0

Summary of Findings

Outcome	Effect Size and Implied Percentile Effect	N of Studies (Findings)	N of Participants	Summary of Findings
Child permanency: Out-of-home placement	0.25 9	1 (1)	498	Favorable: 1 No Effect: 0 Unfavorable: 0

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group.

Individual Study Findings

Outcome	Effect Size and Implied Percentile Effect	N of Studies (Findings)	N of Participants	Summary of Findings	Months after treatment when outcome measured
Child permanency: Out-of-home placement	0.25 9	1 (1)	498	Favorable: 1 No Effect: 0 Unfavorable: 0	-
Study 10898 - Iowa Parent Partner Program v. UC (2011 Cohort) (Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center, 2014)
Reunification with parent	0.25 * 9	-	498	-	0

*p <.05

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications.

Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.

Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.

Studies Reviewed

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.

Studies Rated Moderate

Study 10898

Chambers, J. M., Lint, S., Thompson, M. G., Carlson, M. W., & Graef, M. I. (2019). Outcomes of the Iowa Parent Partner program evaluation: Stability of reunification and re-entry into foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 104 (2019), Article 104353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.05.030

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center. (2014). Iowa’s partnering with parents for systems change: Final implementation project report. https://library.childwelfare.gov/cwig/ws/library/docs/gateway/Blob/105034.pdf?w=+NATIVE%28%27recno%3D105034%27%29&upp=0&rpp=10&r=1&m=1