Many parents today live in
highly stressful circumstances. They face multiple challenges as they care for their
infants, often with little support. They may be struggling to come to grips with an
abusive past. They are families at risk.
As a service provider working with these
parents and children, you strive daily to provide the most effective support
possible under difficult circumstances. We understand that you need practical and effective
prevention and intervention techniques to help your families succeed.
To help you, we are making available the
comprehensive facilitators’ guide for the award winning STEEP™
program (Steps Toward Effective, Enjoyable Parenting).
The
STEEP™
program is based on attachment theory and is grounded in more than 26 years of
longitudinal research on risk and resilience conducted at the University of
Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development.
Developed in 1986 by Drs. Byron Egeland and
Martha Farrell Erickson, STEEP™ reaches out to parents even before their first child is
born. STEEP™ works on the premise that a secure attachment between
parent and infant establishes ongoing patterns of healthy interaction. A secure parent-child
attachment lays the foundation for later competence and well-being.
Through home visits and group
sessions, STEEP™ facilitators work alongside parents to help them
understand their child’s development. Parents learn to respond sensitively and
predictably to their child’s needs, and to make decisions that ensure a safe and
supportive environment for the whole family.
