ABC in Delaware
ABC Parenting is delighted to share that due to grant funding, we are able to provide ABC to families in Delaware. You can receive ABC as long as you are the parent of a child ages 4 or younger.
Do you want to participate in ABC with your child? Here’s some important information you should know:
ABC was developed at the University of Delaware (UD) by Dr. Mary Dozier and colleagues. There have been a lot of exciting research studies that demonstrate the short- and long-term effects of ABC. Check out this ABC infographic (available in English and Spanish) to see how ABC can help you and your children. You can also visit our “Research” tab to learn more about research supporting ABC, ABC research projects, and a list of publications.
ABC is provided entirely free of charge. ABC Parenting will not ask for your insurance information or ask you to pay for any services. As a thank you for your time, you will receive a $200 gift card at the end of ABC.
ABC is a 10 session parenting program. If your child is 5 months or older, we like to schedule sessions on a weekly basis. For children who are younger than 5 months, we like to do the ABC sessions every other week. However, we are flexible and understand that families often are not able to do all 10 sessions back to back.
TeleABC is available to families anywhere in Delaware through Zoom, making it easy to participate from home. Depending on where you live, we can also offer in-person ABC. For in-person ABC, the parent coach comes to your home to complete ABC sessions with you and your child.
All ABC sessions are recorded. ABC parent coaches use these videos to highlight moments when parents are doing a great job. Families receive a special montage at the end of the program with video highlights of you and your child. In addition, ABC parent coach trainees have supervisors who review the videos to make sure that parent coaches are delivering ABC with fidelity and families are receiving high-quality services. All videos are stored on secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms, and access is strictly limited to specific ABC Parenting staff. We take the confidentiality and privacy of families very seriously and follow strict procedures to protect all information. We’re happy to answer any questions about why we record ABC sessions and how the videos are stored. We can also provide written information outlining the purpose of video recording and our confidentiality practices.
ABC is an appropriate intervention for birth parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, and kin caregivers.
ABC is a helpful program for ALL parents and children. Parenting is hard, and all parents benefit from extra support!
Questions? Check out our “Common Questions” section below.
Email abcdelaware@abcparenting.org to learn more!
If you’re interested in learning more about ABC or getting matched with an ABC parent coach in Delaware, you can:
Complete this survey in English or Spanish
OR
Email abcdelaware@abcparenting.org
Common Questions
What does a typical ABC session look like?
Although ABC sessions look different for each family, all ABC sessions are about an hour-long and have a specific theme or focus. During a typical session, your parent coach will talk with you about parenting and child development, and you will watch some videos together. Your parent coach will also plan activities for you and your child. While you play and respond to your child, your ABC parent coach will provide in-the-moment feedback about what you are doing well. If you are doing ABC in-person, your parent coach will bring all of the supplies you will need for ABC. If you are doing ABC on Zoom, you likely already have all of the supplies at your home that you need for ABC. If not, we can mail supplies to you before the session. Parents do not need to do anything to prepare for their ABC sessions or complete any homework assignments between ABC sessions.
What parenting behaviors will I learn about in ABC?
For parents of children 24 months and younger, ABC focuses on three key areas: providing nurturance to your child when they are upset, following your child’s lead, and delighting in your child. ABC parent coaches also offer guidance on behaviors that may unintentionally frighten or overwhelm young children, helping parents respond in ways that build trust and security. For children between the ages of two and four, ABC continues to emphasize providing nurturance when your child is upset and following your child’s lead. In addition, ABC parent coaches support parents in using calming strategies to help children manage strong feelings or tantrums in a nurturing and effective way.
What if my child acts out or misbehaves during the session?
We actually love when that happens. We know it’s challenging to handle those moments as a parent. We support and coach you through them. We’ve seen it all and never want a parent to feel embarrassed.
Do I need to be at all of the sessions?
Yes. You and your child need to be present at all 10 ABC sessions.
Do I need to do anything before the sessions?
No. There aren’t homework assignments or anything you need to do to prepare. If you are doing ABC at your home, don’t worry about cleaning.
Do you have coaches who speak Spanish?
Yes.
What if I want to stop ABC early?
Not a problem. You can stop meeting with your parent coach at any point in time. The program is completely voluntary.
What if I don’t want to do ABC at my house?
We can meet in a private room at the library, at our office space in Newark, or another space where you feel comfortable. You can also complete your sessions remotely via telehealth.
Can other children and adults do the program?
Absolutely. We encourage anyone who is at home to participate.
Do I have to participate in any research studies?
No. Parents are asked to complete a few surveys at the start and end of ABC for program evaluation purposes, but these surveys are not part of a formal research study. Participation is voluntary, and parents may skip any questions they prefer not to answer or skip the surveys in their entirety.
Can I do ABC if my child has Autism or developmental concerns or is non-verbal?
Yes. You and your child can still receive ABC. If you have any questions, our Delaware implementation team is happy to talk to you about whether ABC is a good fit for your family.
Can I receive ABC if I am doing any other home visiting programs with my child?
Yes. Because ABC in Delaware is funded through private grants, you are still eligible to receive ABC even if you are doing another parenting program, such as Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families, or Nurse Family Partnership.
Why do you video record ABC sessions?
We video record sessions for supervision purposes to ensure ABC parent coaches are providing the best support possible. These videos are also used to highlight moments when parents are doing an excellent job. At the end of ABC, we compile these moments into a special montage video for families. All ABC session videos are kept confidential and are never shown or used outside of supervision. Their primary purpose is educational, helping both parents and coaches learn and grow throughout the program.
Do I receive anything at the end of the program?