A preliminary evaluation of the Confident Kids Program – a stand alone component of the Exploring Together Program

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Confident Kids Program , as a separate component of the multi-group Exploring Together Program (ETP). Confident Kids aims to reduce children’s behavioural and emotional difficulties through a group program for primary school children that meets once weekly for 10 weeks. This report presents an analysis of pre-post data collected from 39 parents whose children attended the Confident Kids programs and 48 teachers in the state of Victoria. Following the program, significant improvements were noted in parent reports of children’s internalising and externalising difficulties, levels of parenting satisfaction and parenting styles. Teachers also reported a significant improvement in children’s internalising behaviour from pre- to post-program. The benefits of offering both multi-group and single component interventions in school and community settings are also discussed.