Strongest Families (Formerly Family Help Program): Pediatric Disruptive Behaviour Disorder

The purpose of the Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program): is to deliver, primary care mental health services to children and their families in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Approximately 60 children (3-7 years of age)suffering from mild to moderate (but clinically significant) symptoms of pediatric behavior disorder will be randomized.

The intervention is delivered from a distance, using educational materials (manuals, video-tapes, audio-tapes) and telephone consultation with a trained paraprofessional "coach" who is supervised by a licensed health care professional. The telephone coach delivers consistent care based on written protocols, with on-going evaluation by a professional team.

Fifty percent of the eligible participants will receive Family Help Program telephone-based treatment and 50% will be referred back to their family physician to receive standard care as determined by that physician. Those receiving standard care will be evaluated for outcome results and then compared to the Strongest Families treated participants. It is anticipated that Strongest Families treatment will be proven to be as or more effective than standard care.

Inclusion criteria

• child 3 to 7 years of age
• child had behavioural problems for 6 months or longer
• access to a telephone in the home
• speak and write english
• mild to moderate disruptive behaviour symptomology

Exclusion criteria

• severe disruptive behaviour symptomology
• received similar intervention within past 6 months
• Autism or Schizophrenia
• child has intellectual impairment