Abby Wilson, director of community initiatives for Children’s Trust, is responsible for leading a collaborative approach in the launch of the evidence-based Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) across the state. Funded by The Duke Endowment, Triple P South Carolina – which is a partnership between Children’s Trust, Triple P America, and The Impact Center at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute of the University of North Carolina – will lead Triple P scaling in South Carolina through the development of governance, support and delivery systems.
Abby Wilson
Backed by more than 30 years of ongoing research since its origination in Australia, Triple P is currently used nationally and internationally to give parents practical strategies to assist them in managing their children’s behavior. Wilson answered five questions about the program’s launch, which is beginning with Georgetown and Greenville counties.
Why did Children’s Trust select Triple P as an evidence-based prevention program?
A few years ago, Children’s Trust took a deep look at its programming to ensure the best options were selected to meet the needs of families in South Carolina. The Triple P system of interventions was one of our top choices because it is designed to fit the differing needs of all families, is grounded in strengths-based messaging around parenting, and is one of the few models shown to be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect across a community.
What makes the core principles of Triple P unique for the families and children being served?
Triple P is grounded in five core principles, and those principles are consistent in all Triple P programming across a community. Instead of Triple P being one specific program, think of it as an umbrella of programs with many different ways to meet the needs of families (individual or group, one-time or multi-week sessions, younger children or teen). My favorite part of Triple P is that parents drive their own goal-setting.
How important was the $4.2 million grant from The Duke Endowment to initiate Triple P?
Support from The Duke Endowment is paramount to scaling Triple P in South Carolina. There are places all around the state where discrete levels of Triple P are being offered. The Endowment’s support allows us to expand the entire Triple P system across a community by strengthening the local capacity to deliver these evidence-based interventions. What we learn in Greenville and Georgetown will show us how to support service delivery over the long term and take Triple P to more communities. The partnership with The Duke Endowment – as well as The Impact Center and Triple P America – is a critical component for success.
What qualities did Children’s Trust seek in the counties where the program was launched?
Communities were chosen based on multiple factors: existing programs and resources, capacity, current Triple P initiatives, and child maltreatment data. It was important to start with geographically-diverse communities as well.
What would long-term success look like for communities engaged in this project?
At the end of the day, we want kids and families to be safe, supported and well. To do that, organizations and communities must have the tools and the capacities they need for families. This is the space where the grant is focused – ensuring the local supports are in place to foster this ongoing work now and into the future.
