Parent-Child Assistance Program
Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP)’s primary goals are to help mothers with alcohol and drug use disorders achieve and maintain recovery, build healthy family lives, and prevent the births of subsequent alcohol- or drug-exposed infants. The PCAP model is based on relational theory, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction principles to build trusting relationships with mothers, help participants identify goals and take incremental steps to meet them, connect families with comprehensive community services, and enhance maternal self-efficacy.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
Home visits take place twice per month, with a higher frequency during times of family need. Services are provided for a duration of 3 years. Families may enroll until the child is 12 months old (or 24 months when space allows), but PCAP recommends families initiate services prenatally.
PCAP’s service population includes the following:
- Families with a history of substance use or in need of treatment
- Families with low incomes
- Expectant caregivers
- Caregivers disconnected from community service providers
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
PCAP was implemented by 91 full-time equivalent (FTE) home visitors in 2023. The model requires a bachelor’s degree for home visitors. The maximum caseload requirement for home visitors is 20 families.
Supervisors
PCAP was implemented by 12.8 FTE supervisors in 2023. The model recommends at least a bachelor’s degree for supervisors.
Where is the model implemented?
PCAP operated in 19 local agencies across 5 states in 2023. PCAP also operated outside the United States and its territories in Australia and Canada in 2023.
Families Served Through Home Visiting in 2023
Race
8% American Indian Alaska Native
* Asian
4% Black
3% Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
68% White
16% Multiple
Ethnicity
12% Hispanic or Latino
88% Not Hispanic or Latino
Primary language
100% English
0% Spanish
0% Another language
Caregiver age
8% ≤21 years
41% 22-29 years
51% 30-44 years
<1% ≥45 years
Caregiver education
34% No HS diploma
48% HS diploma or GED
16% Some college or training
2% Bachelor's degree or higher
Household income
98% Low-income status
2% Not low-income status
Child insurance status
97% Public
3% Private
0% None
Child age
23% <1 year
64% 1-2 years
14% 3-5 years