Evidence-based Parenting Interventions to Help Parents Reduce the Use of Physical Punishment

Note: This training is available for free to MDHHS-affiliated child welfare workers.

This course focuses on an issue that many social workers confront in their practice with children and families - the use of discipline and physical punishment in childrearing. This course examines research on the effectiveness of a wide range of parental disciplinary approaches. This course introduces a series of evidence-based parenting interventions, and discusses how these interventions approach parents' beliefs and behaviors related to child discipline. We will discuss how cultural norms and beliefs may influence parents' discipline choices, and how social workers can engage in productive dialogue with parents to help parents achieve their parenting aims. Content of this course is based on the book published by the instructor titled "Ending the physical punishment of children: A guide for clinicians and practitioners."