The five-day residential program run by the Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC) provides intensive parenting education and support for parents of children between the ages of 0-3 years. The residential program uses an evidence-based framework based on family-centred assessment and planning, natural teaching strategies and cooperative family learning to help families who are experiencing complex problems. The aims of the residential program are to enhance: early parenting practices, positive family communication and interaction, caregiver wellbeing and healthy child development.

The Parenting Research Centre was contracted to conduct an evaluation of this program in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The study explored the acceptability of the program and the family-centred approach at the Queen Elizabeth Centre, as well as the effects of the program on parental wellbeing and child behavioural difficulties.

Results suggested that the Queen Elizabeth Centre was providing a service consistent with a philosophy of family centred care, and overall parents seemed satisfied with the program and Centre. Statistically significant improvements were seen in parental depression, anxiety and stress, parental sense of efficacy and satisfaction, and caregiver behaviour. Parents also reported significant improvements in child behavioural difficulties after completing the program.