Parents Anonymous®
Parents Anonymous® seeks to enhance family functioning and parent/caregiver resilience to prevent and treat child maltreatment by offering groups for parents/caregivers and their children/youth. Groups are guided by four core principles and therapeutic processes: mutual support, parent leadership, shared leadership®, and personal growth and change. Groups are also linked to six additional strength-based goals: (1) increasing protective factors and reducing risk factors, (2) improving family functioning, (3) mitigating the impact of and preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), (4) preventing and intervening in substance use disorders, (5) preventing and intervening in domestic violence, and (6) enhancing the physical and mental health of parents/caregivers. Both adult and children/youth groups aim to provide safe and caring environments created through trauma-informed practices.
Each adult group appoints a Parent Group Leader who co-leads the group with the Group Facilitator. Together, they encourage parents/caregivers to share responsibility for planning and operating the group. In the adult group, parents/caregivers support each other and discuss parenting strategies. Each children/youth group is also led by a Group Facilitator. In the children/youth groups, children and youth (separated developmentally) learn to manage their emotions, change their attitudes and behaviors, and strengthen their relationships with their families through structured activities based on 12 monthly themes. Older youth also participate in group discussions designed to address age-relevant topics such as substance use, impulse control, gang involvement, and organizational skills.
In addition to the group sessions, Parents Anonymous encourages families to utilize the National Parent Helpline® for emotional support and provides supportive services including linking families to community resources.
Parents Anonymous® is rated as a supported practice because at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Aug 2021
Sources
The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information was informed by the following sources: the program or service manuals, the program or service developer’s website, the California Evidence Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, 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
Parents Anonymous is designed for families with children/youth (birth-18) experiencing difficulties related to mental health, substance use disorders, or challenging life situations. It also focuses on families who may be at risk for involvement with the child welfare system or who are already involved. The program serves anyone in a parenting/caregiving role who is seeking support with parenting strategies.
Dosage
Parents Anonymous is designed to serve parents/caregivers and their children/youth through weekly 2-hour support groups. Groups are held separately for parents/caregivers and children/youth (separated developmentally) but occur at the same time and location. Parents/Caregivers can join a group at any time and attend for as many weeks as they like. Children/youth may only attend if their parents/caregivers participate in the adult group.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Parents Anonymous can be delivered in a variety of settings, including local community centers, family resource centers, churches, schools, early childhood centers, Head Start, shelters, mental health centers, drug and alcohol agencies, military installations, and prisons.
Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research
- Nonprofit or government agencies
Education, Certifications and Training
Group Facilitators should have a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in social work, psychology, early childhood education, or other behavioral science field. Group Facilitators should also have experience with and expertise in providing primary prevention and family strengthening programs to diverse populations. Each adult group appoints a Parent Group Leader who co-leads the group with the Group Facilitator. There are no educational requirements for the Parent Group Leader.
To become certified, Group Facilitators and Parent Group Leaders must attend a 40-hour in-person training delivered by Parents Anonymous® Inc. Group Facilitators also shadow two to four adult groups and at least one children/youth group. Parent Group Leaders also develop an Individual Action Plan and participate in virtual guided practice sessions for 4 to 6 months after the in-person training.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
The Parents Anonymous® Inc. Operations Manual is implemented in conjunction with the best practices manuals for group facilitators.
Parents Anonymous® Inc. (2018). Parents Anonymous® Inc.: Operations manual.
Parents Anonymous® Inc. (2018). Ensuring evidence-based Parents Anonymous®: The best practices manual for Parents Anonymous® adult group facilitators and parent group leaders.
Parents Anonymous® Inc. (2018). Ensuring evidence-based Parents Anonymous®: The best practices manual for Parents Anonymous® children & youth group facilitators.
Available languages
The manuals for Parents Anonymous are available in English. Parent resources are available in English and Spanish.
Other supporting materials
For More Information
Website: https://parentsanonymous.org
Phone: (909) 575-4211
Email: info@parentsanonymous.org
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.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Parents Anonymous® |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 11 |
| Eligible for Review | 1 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 1 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
| Outcome | Effect Size
 and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child safety: Child welfare administrative reports |
0.36
13 |
1 (6) | 428 |
Favorable:
2 No Effect: 4 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Child permanency: Out-of-home placement |
-0.16
-6 |
1 (2) | 428 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 2 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.
| Outcome | Effect Size
and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child safety: Child welfare administrative reports |
0.36
13 |
1 (6) | 428 |
Favorable:
2 No Effect: 4 Unfavorable: 0 |
- |
| Study 11425 - Parents Anonymous vs Services as Usual (Burnson, 2021) | |||||
| Maltreatment Referrals |
0.27
10 |
- | 428 | - | 6 |
| Maltreatment Referrals |
0.24
*
9 |
- | 428 | - | 12 |
| Child Welfare Investigations |
0.23
8 |
- | 428 | - | 6 |
| Child Welfare Investigations |
0.21
8 |
- | 428 | - | 12 |
| Substantiated Maltreatment Allegations |
0.59
22 |
- | 428 | - | 6 |
| Substantiated Maltreatment Allegations |
0.60
*
22 |
- | 428 | - | 12 |
| Child permanency: Out-of-home placement |
-0.16
-6 |
1 (2) | 428 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
- |
| Study 11425 - Parents Anonymous vs Services as Usual (Burnson, 2021) | |||||
| Child Removals |
-0.22
-8 |
- | 428 | - | 6 |
| Child Removals |
-0.10
-3 |
- | 428 | - | 12 |
*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 Rated Moderate
Study 11425Burnson, C., Covington, S., Arvizo, B., Qiao, J., & Harris, E. (2021). The impact of Parents Anonymous on child safety and permanency. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.105973
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 11415
Kelley, M. L., Grace, N., & Elliott, S. N. (1990). Acceptability of positive and punitive discipline methods: Comparisons among abusive, potentially abusive, and nonabusive parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 14(2), 219-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/0145-2134(90)90032-o
This study is ineligible for review because it does not report program or service impacts on an eligible target outcome (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.5).
Study 11416
Polinsky, M. L., Pion-Berlin, L., Williams, S., Long, T., & Wolf, A. M. (2010). Preventing child abuse and neglect: A national evaluation of Parents Anonymous groups. Child Welfare, 89(6), 43-62. https://parentsanonymous.org/assets/Child-Welfare-2010.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11417
Polinsky, M. L., Pion-Berlin, L., Long, T., & Wolf, A. M. (2011). Parents Anonymous outcome evaluation: Promising findings for child maltreatment reduction. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 1(1), 33-47. http://parentsanonymous.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/JournalofJuvenileJusticeVolume1Issue1Fall2011.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11418
Ainsworth, A. (2019). Effectively preventing and treating child abuse and neglect by strengthening families: Evaluation brief 2016-2019. Center for Assessment, Research & Evaluation, California State University Northridge. https://parentsanonymous.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019ParentsAnonymous_EvaluationBrief_Final.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11419
Polinsky, M. L., Levine, M. H., Pion-Berlin, L., Torres, A., & Garibay, J. (2013). Development and validation of a wraparound parent partner fidelity tool. Social Work Research, 37(2), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svt014
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11420
National Council on Crime and Delinquency. (2007). Outcome evaluation of Parents Anonymous®. https://parentsanonymous.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PANCCDOutcomeEvaluationFinalReport-July30-2007.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11422
Pion-Berlin, L., Williams, S., Polinsky, M. L., Pickens, D. (2011). Parents Anonymous® evidence supports the strengthening families approach. Research Profile, 3. https://parentsanonymous.org/assets/Strengthening-Families-2011.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11423
Polinsky, M. L., Pion-Berlin, L. (2001). Research on parent leadership: Significance and findings. Research Profile, 2. https://parentsanonymous.org/assets/Research-on-Parent-Leadership-2001.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11424
Anthony, E. K., Berrick, J. D., Cohen, E., & Wilder, E. (2009). Partnering with parents: Promising approaches to improve reunification outcomes for children in foster care. Center for Social Services Research, School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley. https://parentsanonymous.org/assets/Final_Report_UC_Berkeley_2009_Evaluation_of_Contra_Costa_Parent_Parners.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).
Study 11426
National Council on Crime and Delinquency. (2002). Process evaluation of Parents Anonymous®. https://www.evidentchange.org/sites/default/files/publication_pdf/evaluation-parents-anonymous.pdf
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).