Support, success and a brighter future for South Carolina Parents Anonymous helping families along the way.

5 Protective Factors


Parents Anonymous® of South Carolina's parents participated in a three year national evaluation study of Parents Anonymous® groups in 2007 with the National Center for Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) which was funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice.  "This evaluation assessed whether participation in Parents Anonymous® Mutual Support Groups was associated with child maltreatment prevention. Parents new to groups across the United States were interviewed at baseline, one month, and six months.  Using standardized scales, all parents showed improvements in some child maltreatment outcomes, risk factors, and protective factors. Parents starting out with particularly serious needs showed statistically significant improvement on every scale. Results indicated that Parents Anonymous participation contributes to child maltreatment reduction." (Child Welfare • Vol. 89, No. 6 published in 2010)

According to Research Profile No. 3 published by Parents Anonymous®, Inc in 2011, "Findings from several evaluation studies show that Parents Anonymous® Mutual Support Groups promote the five protective factors identified in the Strengthening Families approach.  The NCCD evaluation (which is the most recent) assessed the relationships among group participation, risk factors, protective factors, and child maltreatment outcomes."  The following Parents Anonymous® outcomes were found for the five Protective Factors.

  •   Protective Factor #1:   Parental Resilience/Family Functioning
  • Parents Anonymous® Evaluation Outcomes

       Ø  Improved problem solving and ability to cope with stress

                Ø  Reduced parental distress and drug and alcohol us

    •   Protective Factor#2:  Social Support
    • Parents Anonymous® Evaluation Outcomes

                   Ø  Improved emotional and general social support

                   Ø  Reduced intimate partner violence and social isolation

    •  Protective Factor #3:  Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
    • Parents Anonymous® Evaluation Outcomes

                   Ø  Greater use of nonviolent discipline for at-risk parents

                   Ø  Improved knowledge of child development

                   Ø  Reduced parental rigidity and inappropriate expectations 

    •    Protective Factor #4:  Concrete Support in Times of Need
    •   Parents Anonymous® Evaluation Outcome

                     Ø  Greater levels of instrumental Support 

    •  Protective Factor #5:  Nurturing and Attachment
    • Parents Anonymous® Evaluation Outcome

                     Ø  Children's improved social and emotional behavior

      6/11-11 DX                                                www.paofsc.org

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Help Strengthen a Family

In South Carolina less than one dollar a day......in fact, only 81¢...will serve an entire family in Parents Anonymous group for ONE YEAR. 

81¢= $24.30 per month or only $292 a year to provide our services and help a family "along the way." 

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