In general, the search found that parent education or parent support approaches were considerably less effective than highly structured approaches such as behavioral parent training, family skills training, family therapy, or comprehensive family support programs. Parenting skills training often reduces negative behavioral problems by improving parental monitoring and supervision but only indirectly improves family relationships. Family interventions tend to have a more immediate and direct impact on improving family relations, support, and communications and on reducing family conflict. In-home family support and parent support programs help build a more supportive environment by enhancing the capacity of the family to access information, services, and social networks. Children's social skills training added to parenting and family programs improve children's prosocial skills.
Family strengthening programs can curb crime and delinquency.
To be maximally effective, delinquency prevention programs must start as early as possible. If high-risk families are provided intensive and repeated family and youth interventions by professionals, aggressive and violent behavior in youth can be reduced. The juvenile courts and community providers must consider whether the prevention or treatment programs they are considering really work. It is also important to know whether aggressive, violent, or delinquent behaviors actually changed or just participant knowledge or satisfaction with the program. Policymakers and funders should require that research-based prevention programs be selected for implementation if their funds are to be used.