Triple-P

RKBU North, UiT The Arctic University of Tromsø is in partnership with the Czech Ministry of Health in the EU project "Positive Parenting Program Czech Republic," also known as the "Triple P Project." This is part of the EEA Grants 2014-2021 health program. Initial discussions about the project began in 2017 between the Department of Child Psychiatry at Motol University Hospital, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and RKBU Nord, UiT. An intention agreement was signed in 2020, and the final cooperation agreement between Czech authorities and RKBU Nord was signed in 2021. The project period extends until April 2024. The project's goal is to pilot, scale up, and conduct research on the use of evidence-based parenting guidance in the Czech Republic. Efforts have been made to establish implementation structures, train group leaders, and assess the effectiveness of the intervention in a Czech context. The aim for the future is for the Czech government to take over funding and permanent operation after the project period ends. Evidence-based parenting guidance represents a completely new practice in the Czech Republic.

 RKBU North, UiT's role in the project has been to assist Czech authorities and professional communities with knowledge in selecting interventions, implementation, and research on evidence-based parenting guidance. After thorough evaluation and dialogue with several providers of evidence-based parenting guidance, Czech authorities chose to adapt and adopt programs from the Australian provider Triple P. The project has been somewhat affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some plans having to be adjusted and extended. Overall, the set goals have been achieved. Training of group leaders commenced, and parent groups and targeted guidance were initiated in a selection of clinics and family centers in several regions of the Czech Republic in 2021. Since then, parent groups have been conducted for families in need, new group leaders have been trained, and new geographic areas have been reached. There are plans for the continuation of implementation in most of the clinics/family centers that have started up so far, as well as plans for the training of new group leaders in the future. Adaptation of new Triple P programs for use in the Czech Republic is under consideration.

RKBU North, UiT, represented by Norwegian project collaborator Oddbjørn Løndal and others, has contributed to the partnership through regular digital and some in-person meetings with the Czech project leadership. Oddbjørn Løndal and Lene Mari P. Rasmussen delivered professional presentations at the project's kick-off conference in the Senate in Prague in September 2021. In November 2023, Løndal will present a professional lecture at the project's summary conference. As part of the collaboration, RKBU North contributes to written publications from the project.

The impact of using Triple P parenting guidance in the Czech Republic is promising and provides a basis for further implementation. Results from the evaluation are currently being processed, and some of the findings will be presented at the summary conference in Prague on November 9, 2023. It is expected that some of the results will be publicly shared after this date.