What is it?
The Prevention Program for Externalizing Problem Behavior (PEP) is a preventative group-based intervention for parents and kindergarten teachers of young children with externalizing problem behaviors. PEP aims to reduce problem behaviors and present delinquency by improving parenting skills and parent-child relationships. The program targets families of children with early onset of externalizing problem behaviors. PEP is administered by a PEP-trained child psychologist that administers weekly sessions to parents and teachers. The sessions discuss basic strategies for handling child problem behaviors including stress-reduction and positive reinforcement techniques.
What is the evidence base?
Parents that participate in PEP demonstrate more parental warmth and utilize enhanced parenting strategies. Children demonstrate fewer disruptive behaviors.
