New Parent Training Series

Project ImPACT designed by Ingersoll and Dvortcsak. During the summer, the parent training will be offered to parents on an individual basis; next fall we plan to be able to offer parent training in a combination group and individual setting basis.

Research shows that parent training can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. It can help parents impliment strategies with a higher level of fidelity, result in better generalization and maintenance of skills, increase parents’ leisure time, increase optimism about child’s future, and decrease parent stress. (Pg. 5)

Project ImPACT is based on four guiding principles: (1) Implementation is naturalistic (2) Typical development is used to guide selection of treatment (3) Children learn social communication through affect-laden interactions with responsive caregivers (4) Techniques are based on applied behavior analysis. (Pg. 8)

The individual parent training consists of 24 60-90 minutes sessions ideally delivered twice a week. The group format involves 6 two hour group sessions and 6 45-60 minute home coaching sessions. Either format will also include follow-up, maintenance sessions.

Each parent receives a parent training manuel with activities, fill-ins, and homework to complete with their child. It also serves as a great reference guide in between sessions.
Topics include:
Overview of the Program & Goal Development
Review Goals & Set Up Your Home for Success
Follow Your Child’s Lead
Imitate Your Child
Animation
Modeling and Expanding Language
Playful Obstruction
Balanced Turns
Communicative Temptations
Direct Teaching Techniques