This article, published in the Journal for Child Psychology and Psychiatry in 2019, explains the outcomes of randomised control trial (RCT) of the Parenting for Lifelong Health Programme in South Africa. The programme is a locally developed, evidence-informed parenting programme that aims to reduce the risk of child maltreatment and improve child developmental outcomes for high-risk, low-income families with children aged two to nine years.

Ilifa is supported the initial evaluation of the project (under the name Sinovuyo Caring Families Project) in collaboration with academic institutions (the Universities of Cape Town, Bangor and Oxford), local NGOs (Clowns Without Borders  South Africa, Ikamva Labantu and The Parent Centre), and international agencies (World Health Organisation and UNICEF).  

The RCT found that the programme shows promise for increasing positive parenting and reducing harsh parenting. 

Written by Catherine L. Ward, Inge M. Wessels, Jamie M. Lachman, Judy Hutchings, Lucie D. Cluver, Reshma Kassanjee, Raymond Nhapi, Francesca Little, and Frances Gardner.

Related Resources:

• Sinovuyo Caring Families Project
• Group programmes for parenting education