Evaluation

Research and evaluation is an essential component of Mothercraft programs; Breaking the Cycle (BTC) leads by example.  Since 1995, research and evaluation has influenced practice and program development at BTC and has yielded rich practise-based lessons that have been shared with others locally, nationally and internationally.  Program evaluation continues to provide additional insights into the outcomes and underlying processes of the BTC approach.

BTC has published three evaluation reports, and over 30 published papers, book chapters and articles.  A number of these are available on or through our Publications in the Resource Library.  The three BTC evaluations (Moore et al. 1998; Pepler et al. 2002; Motz et al. 2006) reported on the efficacy of both the comprehensive, integrated program model and of a pregnancy-outreach model.  The evaluations also reported on enhanced birth and perinatal outcomes for infants of substance involved mothers engaged earlier in pregnancy, on enhanced developmental outcomes for the children involved, on enhanced parenting confidence and competence, on enhanced treatment outcomes, and on decreased rates of separation of mother and child.

The Breaking the Cycle Compendium Vol. 1: The Roots of Relationship (2007) is an edited collection of publications, papers and resources that describe BTC’s experience in developing and evaluating the delivery of an integrated maternal-child response to substance use, pregnancy, mothering, child development and FASD issues.