Circle of Security Parenting
Category
Family Support
Child's Age
0-1 years, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years
Participant
Parents/Guardian
Languages
English, Spanish, Other
Brief Description
A manualized, video-based relationship model delivered by a trained facilitator to groups of caregivers or individual caregivers. Supports caregivers’ reflective capacity and optimizes their understanding of the social emotional needs of infants, toddlers, and young children with clear, simple graphics to offer adults the chance to make sense of what’s under the child’s behavior and their own.
Expected Impact
- Improved parent mentalizing in parents/caregivers
- Improved parent self-efficacy in parents/caregivers
- Reduced parent/caregiver hostility toward the child
- Reduction in parent/caregiver’s feelings of helplessness
- Reduced symptoms of parental depression
- Increase in parent knowledge (of attachment and security)
- Increase in positive parenting practices
Core Components for Model Fidelity
- Sharing the Videos: Trained COSP facilitator shares 8 video chapters with caregivers, creating safety and time for meaningful reflection through manualized questions on both the video content and caregivers’ own lives, beliefs, histories, and struggles. Can be delivered with groups or individual participants.
- Examples of Activities: Caregivers are asked to share examples of concepts discussed in COSP curriculum, such as, when they saw a child Going Out To Explore or Coming In for Connection (and what need was underneath their behavior) at the beginning of each week. An optional Caregiver Workbook is available for those who want more information and activities during the week.
Languages Materials are Available in
English, Spanish, Other*
*Contact purveyor about additional available languages.
Delivery Mode
In-person or virtual group/one-on-one meetings.
Dosage
90-minute sessions offered weekly for 8-10 consecutive weeks. May spread out program delivery and provide 60-minute sessions over more weeks.
Infrastructure for Implementation
Materials: Requires computer or DVD player, projector, speakers, handouts/workbooks for participants, and a thumb drive with video content.
Space: Groups occur in a calm, private space and children are not present (babies under 6 months are welcome if desired), therefore concurrent childcare is highly recommended.
Staffing Requirements
Implementation requires a trained COSP facilitator.
There are no degree or parenting requirements for COSP facilitators, but they must complete the COSP Facilitator Training and engage in ongoing learning and reflection.
Most COSP facilitators have either lived experience supporting other parents/caregivers across their community and/or are professionals with work experience in early childhood contexts.
NCPC strongly recommends staff receive training in the Standards of Quality for Family Support and Strengthening. Contact Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina | PCANC (preventchildabusenc.org) or National Family Support Network for more information, training and certification.
Training for Model Fidelity
COSP Facilitator Training is offered only by Circle of Security International (COSI).
The in-person 4-day training (6 hours per day) is optimal. Training occurs in-person in North Carolina typically once or twice per year, with locations changing to optimize geographic equity. Additional in-person training sessions occur both nationally and internationally and are listed on the COSI website.
COSP Facilitators can be trained through virtual training offered by COSI, delivered either in one week or two weeks. The one-week online course requires approximately 35 hours total and includes 5 mandatory two-hour synchronous Zoom-based sessions. The two-week online course delivers the same material, including the 5 Zoom sessions, but allows more time to complete.
24 CEUs are available for nurses, physicians, and licensed clinical social workers who complete COSP Facilitator Training. These training hours also count towards Endorsement with the National Alliance of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.
All trained COSP Facilitators in North Carolina have free access to ongoing implementation support and reflective consultation through participation in virtual monthly Circles of Support (three different 90-minute sessions offered per month). Individualized support is available as requested. Contact Stephanie Timpe at stimpe@lucydanielscenter.org for further information.
Contact Information
https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/
https://circletogethercarolina.org/
Susanne Walker Wilson, LCSW, LCAS-A, E-IMH: Strategic Initiatives for Circle Together Carolina; info@circletogethercarolina.org, 828-450-1052
Cost Estimates
The one-time training cost (whether virtual or in-person) to become a COSP Facilitator is $1,000 per person. There are no follow-up or recertification costs thereafter. Once someone becomes trained as a COSP Facilitator, they have standing as such with Circle of Security International forever. At no cost to facilitators, ongoing monthly virtual implementation support exists for anyone living and working in NC. This is offered through funding from the Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas and is not offered by COSI.
Costs associated with offering COSP to a group include the printing of the 22 one-page handouts that are offered to each participant and rental space (if applicable).
Additional costs associated with COSP include wraparound services such as childcare and providing refreshments or a meal during group sessions. COSP group sessions are for adults-only and children are not incorporated during sessions, so on-site concurrent childcare provides families of young children with access to COSP. These services are recommended but not required for model fidelity.
NOTE: For information about PCC half scholarship applications, contact Deb Mugno at dmugno@carolinapsychoanalytic.org.
Purpose Service Code (PSC)
5505 – Parent Education
Program Identifier (PID)
Circle of Security Parenting
Minimal Outputs for NCPC Reporting
FY 23-24:
- Number of parents/guardians participating†
FY 24-25:
- Number of parents/guardians participating†
†Select Family Support Programs data collection will include basic demographic data for parent/guardian participants including Race, Ethnicity. Data on interpretation and transportation will be collected when appropriate.
Minimal Outcomes for NCPC Reporting
FY 23-24:
- Increase in parent knowledge
FY 24-25:
- Increase in parent knowledge
Minimal Measures for NCPC Reporting
NCPC Evidence Categorization
Evidence Informed- 3 publications. 1 randomized control trial, 2 quasi-experimental. Results of 2/3 studies showed promising outcomes for participants, but these findings were small and not statistically significant.
Research Summary
Three of the most recent publications on Circle of Security Parenting include two quasi-experimental studies1, 2 and one randomized control trial.3 Results indicated a reduction in perceived caregiver stress both immediately and three months after intervention, although this finding was not statistically significant. COSP was associated with declines in negative parenting practices and caregiver attachment anxiety, but these findings were not statistically significant. Mothers receiving treatment reported significant improvements in parental mentalizing and self-efficacy as well as significantly reduced hostility towards the child, caregiving helplessness, and symptoms of depression. In the treatment group, mothers with older children reported the greatest reduction in caregiving helplessness and those with baseline depression scores indicative of probable clinical depression reported the greatest decreases in hostility and depression symptoms.
Additionally, COSP has been implemented in Buncombe County, NC and at a site in Nebraska. Buncombe County found that, at the end of the first year of implementation, post-test survey results indicated that 90% of participating caregivers agreed or strongly agreed that COSP was beneficial to their family and reported statistically significant differences in their beliefs before and after program completion. For more information, see “COS-P Results of Year One BCHHS Initiative” shared by the purveyor. Similar findings were reported in the year two report (see “Year Two COS-P Report for Buncombe County” shared by the purveyor). Professionals who referred families to or provided COS-P shared in focus groups that they felt more confident in supporting caregivers and their approach with families changed from “fixing problems” to “being with” the individual person. For more information, see “Final Report on COS-P in NC” shared by the purveyor. The Nebraska implementation site included information regarding why participants joined the COSP program, specific positive parent-child interactions, and facilitator experiences. Results indicated that parents were more likely to report recognizing the behaviors that “trigger a negative response” to their child and putting in the effort to think about their child’s needs before reacting. Facilitators confirmed that parents were reflecting on past experiences and noticing their child’s needs during group sessions. For more information, see “COS-P 2018 Report of Nebraska” shared by the purveyor.
- ^ See Hanlon-Dearman et al. (2017). This quasi-experimental study sampled parents with children ages 2-5 years (M = 4.1 years) who were affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Research measures included the Parenting Scale, Parenting Stress Index, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. These assessments were completed pre-intervention, immediately after the treatment ended, and 3 months post-intervention. Results indicated a reduction in perceived caregiver stress both immediately and three months after intervention, although this finding was not statistically significant.
- ^ See Maxwell et al. (2021). This quasi-experimental study sampled mothers of children ages 0-6 years. Participants, and the non-randomized control group, completed assessments before and after the intervention. Research measures included a composite caregiving questionnaire designed for the study using subscales from validated measures and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Mothers receiving treatment reported significant improvements in parental mentalizing and self-efficacy as well as significantly reduced hostility towards the child, caregiving helplessness, and symptoms of depression. In the treatment group, mothers with older children reported the greatest reduction in caregiving helplessness and those with baseline depression scores indicative of probable clinical depression reported the greatest decreases in hostility and depression symptoms.
- ^ See Zimmer-Gembeck et al. (2022). This randomized control trial sampled caregivers with children ages 1-7 years (M = 3.45 years) who reported disruptive child behaviors and parenting distress. Sample populations included diverse family formations (divorced/separated, widowed, etc.) and BIPOC-AALANA (First Peoples indigenous communities in Australia). Participants were randomly assigned to a waitlist control group or to receive the COS-P intervention. Research measures included the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Parenting Practices Measure, Parenting Stress Inventory- Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory II, Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, and Experiences in Close Relationships. Results indicated that COSP was associated with declines in negative parenting practices and caregiver attachment anxiety, but these findings were not statistically significant.
Researched Population
- Parents and caregivers of children ages 0-6 years
- Diverse family formations (such as divorced, separated, widowed, etc.)
- Diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (including indigenous populations)
Clearinghouse and Compendium References
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare- rated NR Not able to be Rated
Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse- rated Does not currently meet criteria
Hanlon-Dearman, A., Malik, S., Wellwood, J., Johnston, K., Gammon, H., Andrew, K. N., Maxwell, B., & Longstaffe, S. (2017). A descriptive study of a community-based home-visiting program with preschool children prenatally exposed to alcohol. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 24(2), e61–e71.
Maxwell, A. M., McMahon, C., Huber, A., Reay, R. E., Hawkins, E., & Barnett, B. (2021). Examining the effectiveness of Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P): A multi-site non-randomized study with waitlist control. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(5), 1123–1140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01932-4
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Rudolph, J., Edwards, E. J., Swan, K., Campbell, S. M., Hawes, T., & Webb, H. J. (2022). The Circle of Security Parenting Program (COS-P): A randomized controlled trial of a low intensity, individualized attachment-based program with at-risk caregivers. Behavior Therapy, 53(2), 208–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2021.07.003
- Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health® (Endorsement or IECMH-E®)
- Highly recommended by NCPC
- NCIMHA Endorsement Overview
- Two Endorsement categories depending on scope of practice
- Infant Mental Health Endorsement®: For professionals working with or on behalf of children birth to 3.
- Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®: For professionals working with or on behalf of children 3 to 6.
- Supports professionals in identifying and developing the knowledge and skills necessary to provide services that are high quality, culturally informed, reflective, and relationship based.
- Endorsement offers career paths that focus on principles, best practice skills, and reflective work experiences that lead to increased confidence and credibility.
- No additional training is required for Endorsement.
- Many applicants may find that many of their onboarding, in service, conference, discipline specific certification, and NCIMHA sponsored trainings can be utilized to complete an Endorsement application.
- NCIMHA Competency Guidelines® & Crosswalks: NCIMHA provides multiple crosswalks connecting the Competency Guidelines to well-recognized training curricula for professionals seeking Endorsement. Below are a few of these crosswalks that are particularly salient to the Smart Start Network as the curricula are included in Smart Solutions. Please view the associated Smart Solutions entries as well as NCIMHA's website for additional information about these curricula and other opportunities.
Local Partnerships Currently Implementing
Local Partnerships in purple have adopted Circle of Security Parenting. Local Partnership contact information can be found here.