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Abstract
This chapter describes an innovative cross-cultural method of working with families to promote the psychosocial well-being of children and to prevent the development of psychological and social problems. It also presents a study designed to evaluate the effects of the service. Primary health care workers in five countries from Northern, Central and Southern Europe were trained to conduct promotional interviews with all prospective mothers in their area one month before and one month after birth. They were also taught to work with mothers identified as in need of support as a parent, by using a specific counselling model to try to prevent the onset of child mental health difficulties. Effects of the intervention on children's psychological development and family adaptation were evaluated at two years of age in comparison with matched groups not receiving the intervention, using a set of questionnaires, interviews and observation methods. The total sample of the study at the initial assessment was 824 families, of which 705 (85.6%) were retained for the outcome assessment.