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 download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0
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).
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.
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtglobal.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Age or Grade-level
|
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
|
Gender
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
| Study 10898 - Iowa Parent Partner Program v. UC (2011 Cohort) | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Children and Youth | ||||||
| Iowa, USA | 2011 | Mean age: 3 years | -- | 51% Male | -- | -- |
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Iowa, USA | 2011 | -- | -- | -- | 21% Prior removal, 40% Neglect, 8% Physical abuse | -- |
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings. The Clearinghouse is currently seeking consultation from experts, including those with lived experience, and input from the public to enhance and improve the display.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated Moderate
Study 10898Chambers, 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, 103. [Online Advance]. 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
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)