Study Highlights Positive Outcomes for Child Well-Being and Family Stability

A study published in Children and Youth Services Review (May 2021) by Cynthia Burnson, Sarah Covington, Bertha Arvizo, Jun Qiao (Evident Change), and Elizabeth Harris (Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation) examined the role of Parents Anonymous® in supporting child well-being and family stability.

“The Impact of Parents Anonymous® on Child Safety and Permanency” study found that parents who participated in Parents Anonymous® were significantly less likely to have new referrals or substantiated referrals to the child welfare system within a year of completing the program compared to those who did not participate. Parents who completed the program had one-third the likelihood of experiencing a new substantiated referral compared to non-participants. While Parents Anonymous® serves a range of parents, many participating families in the two California counties studied have prior interactions with the child welfare system. Within this context, the study findings suggest that the program supports families in strengthening safe and stable environments for children, potentially reducing the need for further system involvement. This study builds on over 55 years of research demonstrating that Parents Anonymous® contributes to positive outcomes for families.