Testing Innovations in Positive Parenting Study (TIPPS)
Testing Innovations in Positive Parenting Study (TIPPS) is designed to assess the effects of two brief positive parenting programs. Promoting positive parenting is a key strategy to improve children’s health and well-being. However, light-touch, universal parenting education programs are rare in the U.S. Societal and cultural assumptions expect parents to know how to provide nurturing and healthy environments for their children. Yet, positive parenting techniques are not always intuitive, especially for those who did not experience them from their own parents. The long term goal of TIPPS is to inform future parenting programs and policies that can support children and families.
We are studying the effects of these parenting programs through interviews with female primary caregivers at three time points: before their participation in these programs, 3 months later, and 4-5 years later.
At this latter time point, caregivers are also invited to bring their child to the TIPPS clinic space to complete a series of activities together, so we can learn more about how moms and their children interact. A subset of these caregivers are then invited to participate in a series of 2 in-depth, qualitative interviews, to offer an expanded breadth of information on parenting stories, goals, and experiences.
From 2014-2018, the TIPPS team recruited and interviewed over 800 caregivers at four Women Infants and Children (WIC) clinics throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Caregivers were randomly assigned into one of three groups: Triple P (Level 2) trainer led parenting program, Play Nicely self-guided online parenting program, and printed community resource guides based on identified needs.
Caregivers shared their parenting journeys through a series of questions that included topics such as:
- Parenting stress
- Caregivers’ own parental bonding experiences
- Child Behavior
- Parenting strategies
- Exposure to violence
- Open ended questions about parenting experiences
- Long-term follow-up interviews (~4 to 5 years from initial interview) were completed in late 2022.
- 440 caregivers completed the interview, and approximately 250 of those caregivers completed a clinic visit with their child.40 caregivers participated in a series of in-depth qualitative interviews.
- Analysis of study data is underway, and results will be shared after analysis is complete.
Principal Investigators:
- Dr. Catherine Taylor, PI, taylorcw@bc.edu (Professor, Boston College School of Social Work)
- Dr. Julia Fleckman, PI, jfleckma@tulane.edu (Assistant Professor, The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine)
Co-Investigators:
- Dr. Stacy Drury, Boston Children's Hospital
- Dr. Samantha Francois, Clark University
- Dr. Seth Scholer, Vanderbilt University
- Dr. Ron Prinz, University of South Carolina
- Dr. Melissa McTernan, Boston College (Biostatician)
- 2014-2018: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- 2018-2025: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
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