ACT Program for Parents

What is ACT Raising Safe Kids?

The ACT program is an early prevention intervention that teaches parents of young children positive parenting skills that create safe, stable, healthy and nurturing environments and relationships that prevent children’s exposure to abuse and adversities that have lifelong consequences. ACT creates a community of learners contributing to the reduction of violence in communities.

ACT’s foundational principles

The program is based on three foundational pieces of evidence from research:

  • The early years are a critical time in development when children are learning basic skills that have long-term effects on their lives.
  • Exposure to adverse experiences early in life, such as maltreatment, can have serious and long-lasting impacts on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development and on health.
  • Parents and caregivers are teachers, protectors, and advocates for their children.
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  • ACT is a universal intervention for ALL parents and caregivers of young children, regardless of risk or experience as abusers
  • Focuses on the early years when lifelong learning and conditions are established
  • Individuals are organized in groups, combining interpersonal interactions and educational information to lead to learning experiences.
  • Curriculum delivery is non-judgmental, puts emphasis on the practice of skills, and presents discussions of positive parenting options.
  • Uses a collaborative, person-centered, gentle, empathetic approach to help motivate parents to utilize positive parenting skills and practices in their lives.
  • ACT curriculum and materials are research-and strength-based.
  • Strong evidence base demonstrates ACT’s effectiveness in improving parenting skills, preventing/reducing physical punishment of children, reducing/preventing children’s aggressive behaviors and bullying, and improving parental social support.
  • ACT is culturally sensitive and has a research-based curriculum and materials adapted for diverse cultures and translated into several languages.
  • ACT translates science-based content into simple, friendly language and formats for all parents/caregivers to learn positive parenting skills and practices.

The research-based curriculum was developed around three central themes:

  • Knowledge and beliefs about child development
    It is important that parents and caregivers understand what children are capable of understanding, feeling, and doing at different ages and stages of development and its conditions.
  • Role of relationship
    Abuse and violence occur in the context of relationships in an environment that is not conducive to healthy relationships. It is important that caregivers understand that strong, nurturing, and healthy bonding with their children creates a positive foundation for the rest of their lives.
  • Parenting skills
    Parenting styles and practices have an impact on children’s behaviors. Parents need to be provided with positive, science-based parenting options that will help them raise their children free of abuse.

The program curriculum is delivered by trained professionals (ACT Facilitators) to groups of parents/caregivers in nine sessions of two hours on average each and addresses the following topics:

  • Pre-Meeting: Motivation and Behavioral Changes
  • Session 1: Learning Child Development and Understanding Children’s Behavior
  • Session 2: Young Children’s Exposure to Violence
  • Session 3: Understanding and Controlling Parents/Adults’ Anger
  • Session 4: Helping Children Manage Difficult Emotions
  • Session 5: Children and Electronic Media
  • Session 6: Discipline and Parenting Style
  • Session 7: Discipline for Positive Behaviors
  • Session 8: Parents as Teachers, Protectors, and Advocates at Home and in the Community

Magination Press
An imprint of the American Psychological Association, Magination Press® publishes beautiful, award-winning books to help children and teens develop in socially and emotionally healthy ways. A comprehensive Note to Parents and Caregivers guides parents, therapists, social workers, and teachers in using each book.

More resources from APA
Check out more science-backed resources and information on children and parenting from APA.


Last updated: February 2026Date created: 2017

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