Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do you have a Train-the-Trainer model? Is it a mandatory implementation component?

We have a Train-the-Trainer model in place and we highly recommend including it as part of the implementation plan because it gives sites the needed expertise to train and supervise practitioners already trained in the model and new practitioners who are interested in being trained. In this regard, our Train-the-Trainer model is intended to promote model sustainability at the site.

While being trained as a Supervisor/Trainer is not mandatory, maintaining quality assurance with regards to adherence and fidelity to the Family Check-Up® model may be a requirement of funders.

2. What is the General Implementation Timeline?

Organizations seeking to implement Family Check-Up® or Everyday Parenting© programs are recommended to plan for a 6 month timeline from the beginning of Provider training. For sustainability purposes, we recommend that at least two practitioners at each site be certified as a Trainer/Supervisor. Certification as a Family Check-Up® or Everyday Parenting© Trainer/Supervisor takes a minimum 2-3 months after initial Provider training. Initial Provider training is typically followed by a period of practice prior to commencing Certification.

3. How many families can be serviced in one year using the Family Check-Up / Everyday Parenting Model?

If a practitioner allocates 30 hours per week of direct service time to delivering the Family Check-Up® / Everyday Parenting© model, they can service approximately 150 families in a year using the model. This does not account for drive time if practitioners were going to use the model in the context of home visiting.

4. Number and Frequency of sessions

The Family Check-Up® has 3 components—Initial Interview, Assessment (involves questionnaires + videotaped interaction tasks), and Feedback. These 3 components can be delivered in 2 or 3 sessions. In the 3 session framework, each component is a separate session. In the 2-session framework, the initial interview and assessment are delivered as one longer session (e.g., 90 minutes).

If a site also implements the Everyday Parenting© program, the curriculum has 3 modules and each module has 4 sessions. Parents and practitioners work collaboratively to tailor what sessions and how many sessions decide best meet the family’s needs. In our research studies, parents participated in an average of 3 Everyday Parenting sessions.

The Family Check-up® and Everyday Parenting© sessions can be done weekly but they do not need to be. However, we recommend no more than 2 weeks between sessions early in the intervention process. There are typically 2 hours of preparation time required between the Assessment Session and the Feedback Session so practitioners generally space the assessment and feedback session 2 weeks apart.

5. Does the same practitioner have to deliver both the Family Check-Up and Everyday Parenting?

It is optimal that the Family Check-Up® and the Everyday Parenting© are delivered by the same practitioner. However, it is not necessary. It is possible that one practitioner delivers the Family Check-up® and that another practitioner delivers the Everyday Parenting. In addition to the Everyday Parenting©, follow-up services after the Feedback Session may include other services, such as individual counseling for the parent. If the practitioner delivering the Family Check-up® or Everyday Parenting© is also clinically trained and counseling is within their scope of practice, that same practitioner can also provide the individual counseling services.

6. Is it possible to use a parenting intervention other than the Everyday Parenting as a follow-up service to the Family Check-Up?

Yes. For example, if the practitioner is already trained in a parenting intervention other than the Everyday Parenting©, the practitioner can elect to offer the parent that alternative intervention as follow-up parenting support. However, the advantage in using the Everyday Parenting© program is that it can be tailored such that a practitioner does not have to use the entire curriculum with the parent but only the parts of the curriculum that target areas in which they need additional support.

7. Is Everyday Parenting evidence-based?

Yes, The Family Check-Up® and Everyday Parenting© are two components of the same intervention, which was tested in multiple randomized control trials. The Family Check-Up® is the assessment and goal-setting component that precedes the sessions on parenting. The Everyday Parenting© is the parenting curriculum that providers use to strengthen parents’ positive parenting skills. Across all research studies, some of the outcomes include mental health, substance use, school readiness, obesity risk, delinquency, risk for abuse/neglect, and suicidal ideation. Everyday Parenting© complements the Family Check-Up® because the curriculum is flexible and frequency, content and duration of sessions can be tailored to the parent’s needs, goals, and readiness.

8. How is family retention in the Family Check-Up® and Everyday Parenting©

Approximately 70% of families that we invited to participate in the intervention participated in Family Check-Up® services and engaged in follow-up Everyday Parenting© services across our research studies.

On average, after the Feedback session, families participated in 3-4 follow-up Everyday Parenting© sessions in the course of a year. In the course of 3 years approximately 70% of families stayed engaged in services.

9. Does the model require videotaping interactions?

When the Family Check-Up® is delivered in person, it typically involves video-taped interactions which provide data that informs the intervention. If there are barriers to this approach at your site, there are alternatives that may also be effective, although the research in support of these would not be as strong. Obtaining the consent of all legal guardians of the minor is also necessary when it comes to the videotaping or recording of minors in the “Assessment” component of the Family Check-Up®.

When the Family Check-Up® is delivered with the web application, it typically does not involve video-taped interactions.

10. How often do providers see both parents as opposed to single parents?

About 30% of parents participate with two caregivers. Due to the ecological emphasis of the intervention, providers are trained to encourage anyone that is a caregiver to the child to participate, not just the primary caregiver.

For parents that are not living together, the interview and assessment can also be done with each parent individually. We recommend ensuring your site is compliant with applicable regulations before engaging with a minor using the Family Check-Up® / Everyday Parenting©.

11. Is there a data collection program available? Is it optional?

A Child and Family Assessment is a core component of the Family Check-Up® . Either a caregiver or a clinician can enter Parent/Caregiver and Child Questionnaire data into our online portal for automated scoring. Providers working with families receive a print-out and summary of the data for individual clients, which is also intended to be used to provide feedback to the families.

Data can be extracted for a particular site, however, there are extra costs associated with that process and the costs differ depending on what data is needed. To protect the confidentiality of the families engaging in the Family Check- Up®, questionnaire data is de-identified and stored on a secure, password-protected server; therefore the extraction of your site’s data needs to be planned with us prior to you initiating implementation.

When the Family Check-Up® is delivered with the web application, all data collection is stored in a HIPAA-compliant implementation of the program, and available to each organization’s administrator of the application.

Family Check-Up® is a federally registered trademark owned by the University of Oregon