Completed

Adaption and implementation of Incredible Years Programme in Lithuania

Institute of Hygiene ·Lithuania

€1.7m

Grant awarded

Health

Programme

12 December 2019

Signed

About this project

The aim of the Project is to strengthen positive parenting skills by Implementing Incredible Years Program Module in Lithuania. Why is it needed? In Lithuania we do not have enough services, which could fulfil needs of families with children having behavioural problems. The child psychiatry available offers treatments that are often excessive, such as prescriptions of medication or hospitalization. For instance, within one year, hospitalization of children due to mental disorders drastically increased by more than 25% (from 4324 to 5412 in 2016-2017). Many of the children and young people who need the most help, do not get it at all. That is why we need more evidence-based early intervention programs. The implementation of the “Incredible Years” Project could and will help to promote evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that develop positive parent-child relationships and assist in preventing and treating behaviour problems as well as promoting social, emotional, and academic competence before a child becomes an adult. Main project activities: <ul> <li>purchasing and adaptation of the Incredible Years training Program module “Preschool Basic Parent Program (3-6 years)”;</li> <li>purchasing and adaptation of the Incredible Years training Program module “School Age Basic Parent Program (6-12 years)”;</li> <li>selection of the most suitable candidates to become group leaders of the Program and organization of group leaders’ trainings, seeking to ensure the provision of high-quality services in the following stages of the Project implementation (86 persons);</li> <li>planning, organization and implementation of parents’ trainings (1116 persons).</li> </ul> Main targeted groups of the Project are: specialists working with children or parents, e.g. social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, public health specialists, special education teachers, etc.; parents of children with behavioural problems and finally, the most important target group is children, who need help.

Bilateral cooperation results

The project partner was the Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare (RKBU) in Norway (https://www.ntnu.edu/rkbu), which has extensive experience in implementing the Incredible Years programme. Over the past 20 years, RKBU has adapted various modules of the programme, making it the leading institution responsible for its development and implementation in Norway. Their cooperation has been key in ensuring the successful implementation of the programme in Lithuania, allowing for the transfer of best practices and providing valuable advice that helped ensure the smooth and timely execution of the project. As part of Activity 2.1.1 ("Acquisition and translation of the curriculum and training materials"), consultations with Norwegian experts were held to facilitate the adaptation of the training materials. For Activity 2.1.2 ("Training of Team Leaders"), partner consultations (both remote and in-person visits) were conducted to support the training process. In Activity 2.1.3 ("Parents trained"), similar consultations took place. Looking ahead, expert consultation meetings in Lithuania are planned, along with regular participation of HI representatives in meetings with the European Incredible Years network members.

Project partners

Norwegian Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare Donor project partner· Norway

Lithuania country profile Other projects in this programme Project website