As the number of child abuse and neglect reports has soared over the past t
wo decades, family clinicians and researchers have increasingly implemented
and evaluated parent training programs designed to insure capable parentin
g. Referral to a parenting program is common wizen parents are Sound to be
maltreating their children. Yet. what is the empirical evidence to suggest
these programs are effective in changing parent behavior? This paper review
s the current research on the effectiveness of parent training programs aim
ed at parents at high risk for child maltreatment. It summarizes this liter
ature and di-aws implications Sor designing more effective programs to meet
the needs of this difficult-to-reach group.