Research Report: Targeted vs Universal Provision of Support in High-risk Communities

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Authors Judy Hutchings, Nia Griffith, Tracey Bywater, Margiad Elen Williams, and Helen Baker-Henningham

Published by Journal of Children's Services, August 2013

SUMMARY

This research aimed to explore whether early intervention parenting programmes targeting families that show a specific risk factor are a more effective use of resources than schemes that are open to all families that live in a disadvantaged area. The rationale for targeting high-risk communities in general is that living in poverty is associated with poorer shortand long-term outcomes for children. There is also an argument that targeting families can lead to stigmatisation.

The researchers looked at two parenting schemes in Wales that used the same basic programme (Incredible Years) but varied in their targeting. One scheme was a Sure Start programme aimed at parents of three- and four-year-olds who were thought to have behavioural problems; the other was a Flying Start programme open to all parents of one- and two-year-olds that lived within certain disadvantaged primary school catchment areas.