To build on the success of this parenting intervention, our team assessed a new five-session Positive Discipline Module with caregivers of children 2-6 years old who have completed the PriCARE program. The additional module is a group caregiver training program that builds on skills such as the 3P’s (praise appropriate behavior, paraphrase appropriate talk and point out appropriate behaviors), strategic ignoring and giving good commands taught in PriCARE. It is designed to promote the use of positive discipline techniques—such as behavior reward charts and effective time-out protocols—as well as skills for handling sibling conflicts and troubleshooting difficult discipline situations.

To assess the feasibility of access to this module, we measured enrollment by calculating the percentage of eligible caregivers who choose to enroll and the number of sessions they attended. Measuring feasibility of this module provided insight into whether caregivers were willing and able to attend five sessions following their attendance at six initial PriCARE sessions and if they viewed the topics covered in this module as beneficial.

Next, to understand the impact of the Positive Discipline Module on child behavior problems, parenting attitudes, quality of caregiver-child interactions, and child maltreatment risk, we conducted virtual interviews and video recordings prior to the intervention and then again two to four weeks after the program ended.

Lastly, after completion of the module, we assessed acceptability by administering the Therapeutic Attitudes Inventory, a 10-question satisfaction measure of caregiver training and caregiver-child treatment. We also collected feedback on participants’ experiences through a brief interview to inform our curriculum and identify ways to improve the program.