[ELTERN-AG--the low threshold school for parents for the early childhood]

Abstract

ELTERN-AG is a selective program of primary prevention. It is a low threshold program and establishes resources of the parents. The groups are homogeneous which means that all families have similar problems. It works with deprived parents from the moment when they plan to get a baby up to their child's school entry. The concept ELTERN-AG theoretically derives from the need-oriented psychological model set up by Epstein (1990) and Grawe (2004) and was modified by Armbruster (2006). It assumed, that deprived people are prevented from meeting their essential needs, so that they are not able to perceive and meet the children's basic needs adequately. ELTERN-AG aims in 20 sessions at the training of competences in early education and the strengthening of the parents' self-help potentials through empowerment. The results of the 3-year long scientific accompanying research show that parents that participated in a course see themselves strengthened when dealing with their children, assess in total the relationship to children more positively and are more confident when coping with problems which occur in connection with their children. During the course parents notice a change about themselves which is recognized by mentors as well as professional multipliers and is confirmed as positive change.