Child maltreatment is recognized as a major public health issue in the United States. In the federal fiscal year 2014, roughly 6.6 million children were referred to child welfare agencies in the nation. Developmental, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems are prevalent among children referred to child welfare services (CWS). For those in foster care, temporary or permanent placement frequently introduces additional instability to a child’s already chaotic life, increasing their risk for deleterious physical and mental health outcomes. Limited research exists documenting the impact of efficacious parent training (PT) interventions aimed at serving low-income ethnic minority families involved in child welfare services. This study constitutes a response to this gap in research. Specifically, an exploratory qualitative study was implemented with 14 low-income ethnic minority parents with recent CWS involvement. To be eligible, all parents met the following inclusion criteria: (a) successfully completed an evidence-based PT intervention as a requisite for reunification with their children, (b) discharged from CWS at the time of recruitment, and (c) reunified with their children. Data were also collected from 8 certified interventionists who delivered the evidence-based parenting intervention. A thematic analysis approach was used to collect, analyze, and interpret the data. Research findings contribute to the existing empirical literature associated with the dissemination of evidence-based PT interventions within CWS contexts. Research and clinical implications are discussed.
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