Evidence-based model
MIECHV eligible
Released in 1979 through 2024
Impact studies rated high or moderate quality
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SafeCare was designed to benefit families with risk factors for child maltreatment and serves families whose children’s ages range from birth through 5 years. SafeCare aims to improve (1) a parent’s decision-making skills about their child’s health, (2) the safety of the home environment, and (3) other parenting skills, including parent-child interactions.
SafeCare is typically delivered in 18 or fewer sessions. Trained SafeCare providers conduct 60-minute weekly or biweekly home visits covering three modules:
Each of the three SafeCare modules typically includes six sessions. During parent training sessions, SafeCare providers explain the rationale for each focus behavior, model that behavior, ask the parent to practice the behavior, and provide feedback to the parent.
SafeCare is modeled after Project 12-Ways but is designed to offer a more streamlined and easy-to-disseminate intervention. SafeCare includes a subset of the Project 12-Ways modules.
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
This model meets 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.
Released in 1979 through 2024
Eligible for review
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.
Ambiguous findings are excluded from this table. An ambiguous finding is a statistically significant impact on an outcome measure in a direction that is not clearly beneficial for or potentially harmful 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 | View 2 Manuscripts | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Linkages and Referrals | View 1 Manuscript | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Maternal Health | View 2 Manuscripts | 3 | 11 | 0 |
| Positive Parenting Practices | Not measured | - | - | - |
| Reductions In Child Maltreatment | View 1 Manuscript | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime | View 2 Manuscripts | 1 | 11 | 1 |
In this section:
Support Availability
Service Delivery
Model services, adaptions and enhancements, model intensity and length.
SafeCare is a structured parenting intervention designed to address behaviors that can lead to child neglect and abuse. The model emphasizes learning in a social context and uses behavioral principles to train parents.
SafeCare is modeled after Project 12-Ways but is designed to offer a more easily disseminated and streamlined intervention. SafeCare uses a subset of the Project 12-Ways modules. Project 12-Ways uses an ecobehavioral approach to help treat and prevent child abuse and neglect. “Ecobehavioral” means providing a variety of services directly in families’ homes to address different needs.
SafeCare serves families with young children whose ages range from birth through age 5. The model is designed to benefit families with risk factors for child maltreatment. SafeCare is intended to complement the more specialized intervention services these families might be receiving from other agencies.
SafeCare aims to improve:
Highlights
The National SafeCare Training and Research Center (NSTRC) provides implementation support to all agencies and systems that deliver the SafeCare model. This support includes training, technical assistance, and quality assurance.
NSTRC is housed in the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Highlights
SafeCare has three modules:
SafeCare includes one-on-one home visits between providers and families. Visits follow structured protocols that cover the model’s three modules. Each module is designed to be implemented in six or fewer sessions: a baseline assessment and observation of parents’ knowledge and skills, four parent training sessions, and a follow-up assessment to monitor change.
During parent training sessions, providers use a four-step approach designed to help parents generalize skills across time, behaviors, and settings. This approach includes
Providers observe parents during daily routines and parent-child play, reinforcing positive behaviors and addressing problematic ones. They also offer parents activity cards to encourage skill development.
Home visiting requirements
NSTRC recommends that SafeCare providers conduct weekly or biweekly sessions for about 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.
Additional requirements
In some SafeCare programs, the model is integrated with other case management, which can extend the time needed for program delivery.
Service duration
SafeCare is typically delivered in 18 or fewer sessions depending on the parents’ initial skills and how quickly they master the skills SafeCare modules focus on. Providers work with parents until they meet a set of skill-based criteria for each of the three modules.
SafeCare has been used with families from many different cultural backgrounds. An adaptation team of experts at NSTRC must discuss and approve any potential changes to the base SafeCare model.
Named enhancements:
SafeCare recognizes the following enhanced version of the model:
SafeCare Augmented. SafeCare Augmented 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 been tailored for use with rural, high-risk families who do not have a long history of involvement with child welfare.
SafeCare has been implemented with the Cherokee Nation. For more information, please contact the developer.
Related Models:
Highlights
Education and supervisory requirements
Staff. SafeCare sites are required to have two primary staff positions:
NSTRC does not require implementing agencies to have SafeCare program coordinators or senior leadership staff.
Education and experience. NSTRC does not have educational requirements for providers or coaches implementing SafeCare.
NSTRC can guide local implementing agencies in selecting appropriate candidates for each type of staff position.
Supervision. NSTRC requires that certified SafeCare coaches coach providers regularly and conduct monthly team meetings to discuss cases and SafeCare implementation.
Training and professional development.
Pre-service training. NSTRC requires SafeCare providers and coaches to participate in pre-service training.
Some local implementing agencies select staff to become certified SafeCare trainers who can train providers and coaches.
Please contact the model developer for additional information about the pre-service training requirements.
Ongoing Professional Development. NSTRC does not recommend or require SafeCare staff to participate in ongoing professional development.
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.
A variety of agencies have implemented SafeCare, including
Coaches are required to regularly monitor the quality of SafeCare sessions, either in person or through audio or video recordings. 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. HomVEE reserves the right to edit the profile for clarity and consistency. The description of the implementation of the model here may differ from how the model 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.