Abstract

The Incredible Years (IY) parent programs (Webster-Stratton et al., Webster-Stratton, 2011, 2021) are a set of well-established evidence-based parent-focused interventions designed to promote young children’s social/emotional competence and school readiness and to reduce conduct problems. With over four decades of research support, the IY parent programs have been identified as a gold-standard intervention for the prevention of future social and emotional problems in young children and for the treatment of children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, internalizing problems and developmental issues. The IY parent programs focus on increasing the use of positive parenting strategies, decreasing harsh discipline, and improving parent, child, and family well-being. These programs can be delivered by nurses, social workers, psychologists and doctors in health clinics, schools and mental health centers.

In this presentation Dr. Webster-Stratton will provide an overview of the IY parenting programs, including its scientific foundation and theory of change, target populations, and relevant considerations when working with a diverse range of participants from various socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, she will summarize session content and structure, training, and research.