68
Manuscripts
Released in 1979 through 2017
0
Manuscripts
Impact studies rated high or moderate quality
Skip to: Effectiveness Implementation
SafeCare, designed for families with a history of child maltreatment or families at risk for child maltreatment, typically provides training to parents with children from birth to age 5 for 18 to 20 weeks. SafeCare was developed to offer key components of its precursor, Project 12-Ways, in a more streamlined way by providing parent training in three focused areas, delivering the intervention in fewer sessions, and using less specialized staff to provide the services.
Related Models:
Where to find out more
National SafeCare Training and Research Center
Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995
Does not meet criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for an evidence-based home visiting model.
Does not meet criteria for an evidence-based home visiting model for Indigenous peoples and communities.
For more information about manuscripts, search the research database.
For more information on the criteria used to rate research, please see details of HomVEEʼs methods and standards.
68
Manuscripts
Released in 1979 through 2017
14
Manuscripts
Eligible for review
0
Manuscripts
Impact studies rated high or moderate quality
1
Manuscript
Released in 1979 through 2017
1
Manuscript
Eligible for review
1
Manuscript
Impact studies rated high or moderate quality
4
Manuscripts
Released in 1979 through 2017
2
Manuscripts
Eligible for review
2
Manuscripts
Impact studies rated high or moderate quality
10
Manuscripts
Released in 1979 through 2017
9
Manuscripts
Eligible for review
2
Manuscripts
Impact studies rated high or moderate quality
To see details on each manuscript HomVEE reviewed in well-designed research, click on the manuscript counts in the table.
Favorable:
A finding showing a statistically significant impact on an outcome measure in a direction that is beneficial for children and parents.
No effect:
Findings are not statistically significant.
Unfavorable:
A finding showing a statistically significant impact on an outcome measure in a direction that may indicate potential harm to children and/or parents.
| Outcomes | Manuscripts | Favorable Findings | No Effects Findings | Unfavorable Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child development and school readiness | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Child health | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Family economic self-sufficiency | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Linkages and referrals | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Maternal health | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Positive parenting practices | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Reductions in child maltreatment | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Outcomes | Manuscripts | Favorable Findings | No Effects Findings | Unfavorable Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child development and school readiness | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Child health | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Family economic self-sufficiency | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Linkages and referrals | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Maternal health | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Positive parenting practices | View 1 Manuscript | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Reductions in child maltreatment | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Outcomes | Manuscripts | Favorable Findings | No Effects Findings | Unfavorable Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child development and school readiness | View 2 Manuscripts | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Child health | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Family economic self-sufficiency | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Linkages and referrals | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Maternal health | View 1 Manuscript | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Positive parenting practices | View 2 Manuscripts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Reductions in child maltreatment | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Outcomes | Manuscripts | Favorable Findings | No Effects Findings | Unfavorable Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child development and school readiness | View 2 Manuscripts | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Child health | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Family economic self-sufficiency | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Linkages and referrals | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Maternal health | View 1 Manuscript | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Positive parenting practices | View 2 Manuscripts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Reductions in child maltreatment | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime | Not measured | - | - | - |
In this section:
Support Availability
Service Delivery
Model services, adaptions and enhancements, model intensity and length.
SafeCare is a structured parenting intervention that is designed to address behaviors that can lead to child neglect and abuse. The model emphasizes learning in a social context and uses behavioral principles for parent training. SafeCare is an adaptation of Project 12-Ways that includes a subset of the Project 12-Ways modules. SafeCare was developed to offer a more easily disseminated and streamlined intervention to parents at risk for child abuse and neglect.
Project 12-Ways, the model SafeCare was based on, employs an ecobehavioral approach to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Ecobehavioral refers to the multifaceted in-home services provided to families.
SafeCare serves families with young children from birth through age 5 years. The model is designed to benefit families with risk factors for child maltreatment. Populations served include young parents; parents with multiple children; parents with a history of depression, other mental health problems, substance use, or intellectual disabilities; foster parents; parents involved with the child protective system for neglect or physical abuse; parents being reunified with their children; parents recently released from incarceration; and parents with a history of domestic violence or intimate partner violence. The model also serves parents of children with developmental or physical disabilities or mental health, emotional, or behavioral issues. SafeCare is intended to complement the more specialized intervention services these families might be receiving from other agencies.
SafeCare has been used with culturally diverse populations.
SafeCare aims to improve (1) parental health decision making skills, including identifying symptoms of illness or injury and seeking appropriate treatment; (2) the safety of the home environment by removing home hazards and addressing parental supervision; and (3) parenting skills and parent-infant/parent-child interactions during daily routines and play activities.
Highlights
Highlights
SafeCare includes one-on-one home visits between home visitors (referred to as providers) and families. SafeCare includes three modules: (1) infant and child health, (2) home safety, and (3) parent-infant/parent-child interactions (Planned Activities Training). The health module trains parents to use health reference materials, record health information, use basic health supplies (such as a thermometer), prevent illness, identify symptoms of childhood illnesses or injuries, and provide or seek appropriate treatment. The safety module helps parents identify and eliminate safety and health hazards and teaches parents how to appropriately supervise their young children. The parent-infant/parent-child interactions (Planned Activities Training) module aims to teach parents how to provide engaging and stimulating activities, increase positive interactions, and prevent challenging child behaviors. Providers observe parents during daily routines and parent-infant/parent-child play. Providers reinforce positive behaviors with parents and address problematic ones. In addition, providers offer parents activity cards to encourage skill acquisition.
SafeCare providers follow structured protocols that cover the model’s three modules. Each module is designed to be implemented in 6 or fewer sessions (for a total of about 18 sessions). The three SafeCare modules typically include a baseline assessment and observation of parents’ knowledge and skills, followed by four parent training sessions, and conclude with a follow-up assessment to monitor change. Providers use a four-step approach during parent training sessions to instill target behaviors: (1) describe and explain the rationale for each behavior, (2) model that behavior, (3) ask the parent to practice the behavior, and (4) provide positive and constructive feedback. This approach is designed to help parents generalize skills across time, behaviors, and settings.
NSTRC recommends that SafeCare providers conduct weekly or biweekly sessions for approximately 60 minutes each. Sessions must be provided no more than twice a week and no less than every two weeks to optimize skill acquisition and retention.
SafeCare is typically delivered in 18 or fewer sessions, depending on the parents’ initial skills observed at the baseline assessment and how quickly they master the target skills. In some SafeCare programs, the model is integrated with other case management efforts, which can extend program delivery. Providers work with parents until they meet a set of skill-based criteria for each of the three modules (health, safety, and parent-infant/parent-child interactions [Planned Activities Training]).
SafeCare Augmented is an adapted version of SafeCare that incorporates additional training for providers in Motivational Interviewing—a technique that explores and builds on an individual’s motivation to change—and ongoing consultation for providers from local experts in intimate partner violence. SafeCare Augmented has also been adapted for use with high-risk, rural families who do not have a long history of involvement with child welfare services.
Cellular Phone Enhanced Planned Activities Training is an add-on to SafeCare’s parent-infant/parent-child interactions (Planned Activities Training) module that incorporates cellular telephones to promote family engagement between home visits. Specifically, providers send families daily text messages and occasional voice messages to encourage and reinforce newly learned parenting strategies.
Dads to Kids (Dad2K) is an adaptation of the SafeCare parent-infant/parent-child interactions (Planned Activities Training) module for fathers. It includes video-based learning, Motivational Interviewing techniques, and a co-parenting curriculum.
An adaptation team of experts at NSTRC must discuss and approve any potential adaptations to the base SafeCare model.
Related Models:
Highlights
SafeCare sites are required to have two primary staff positions: (1) SafeCare providers who deliver home-based services and (2) SafeCare coaches who monitor the fidelity of SafeCare implementation, conduct coaching for providers, and may also deliver services to families. Some local implementing agencies select staff to become certified SafeCare trainers. Certified SafeCare trainers can train providers and coaches within their agency or organizations that are conducting the work of their agency. NSTRC does not require implementing agencies to have SafeCare program coordinators or senior leadership staff.
NSTRC does not have educational requirements for providers or coaches implementing SafeCare. NSTRC recommends that local implementing agencies train staff who have good communication and interpersonal skills and are comfortable delivering interventions to families in the home setting, responsive to coaching and constructive feedback, motivated to implement SafeCare with fidelity, open to new service models, and interested in using a structured protocol for service delivery. NSTRC can guide local implementing agencies in selecting appropriate candidates for each type of staff position.
Coaching involves rating model fidelity and providing feedback to the provider and may differ from staff supervision. NSTRC requires that certified SafeCare coaches provide coaching to providers regularly and conduct monthly team meetings to discuss cases and SafeCare implementation. Coaches are required to regularly monitor the quality of SafeCare sessions either in person or through audio or video recordings.
NSTRC requires all SafeCare providers to complete a multi-day provider workshop delivered by NSTRC training specialists. In addition, providers implementing SafeCare Augmented receive pre-service training in Motivational Interviewing from a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and training in identifying and responding to intimate partner violence. To become a coach, individuals must be certified as SafeCare providers and complete a two-day coaching workshop delivered by NSTRC training specialists. Please contact the model developer for additional information about the pre-service training requirements.
NSTRC does not require SafeCare staff to receive ongoing professional development.
A variety of agencies have implemented SafeCare, including county and state public health departments, departments of family and children’s services, Head Start programs, intensive family preservation services, agencies working with parents with intellectual difficulties, criminal justice programs that serve parents recently released from jail, drug courts, and private agencies that receive referrals from state or local departments of family and children’s services.
There are no specific requirements governing the type or characteristics of agencies that can implement the model. However, there is a pre-implementation process to confirm both model fit and agency readiness.
NSTRC requires providers and their coaches to meet a set of ongoing fidelity guidelines. Please contact the model developer for additional information about these guidelines.
Highlights
HomVEE requests input and feedback from the model developers on their profiles. The information in this implementation profile reflects feedback, if provided, from this model’s developer as of the above date. HomVEE reserves the right to edit the profile for clarity and consistency. The description of the implementation of the model(s) here may differ from how the model(s) was implemented in the manuscripts reviewed to determine this model’s evidence of effectiveness. Model developers are encouraged to notify HomVEE of any changes to their contact information on this page.