Central America welcomes Triple P

A new university course in positive parenting will feature Triple P training as a key component.

Training in Triple P will be part of Universidad Latina de Costa Rica’s new Diploma of Positive Parenting, a post-graduate certificate which was launched by Triple P founder Professor Matt Sanders in San Jose.

The one-year course starts this month and will train graduates from many health services disciplines, including social workers, family doctors, nurses and psychologists.

Students who complete the diploma will be accredited to deliver Primary Care Triple P – a brief intervention that is delivered in private sessions with parents. 

On his first visit to Central America, Professor Sanders also met 20 of Costa Rica’s first 40 Triple P providers, presenting some with their accreditation certificates. The providers have already been providing Group Triple P and the Triple P Seminar series to families, mainly through child care centres in deprived neighbourhoods of San Jose.

Professor Sanders also met with representatives from local universities to discuss potential research collaborations with Australia’s Parenting and Family Support Centre, University of Queensland (of which Professor Sanders is director);  and with various government representatives to discuss how implementing Triple P within their region may help prevent a range of social problems

Triple P Chile Executive Director Ms Francisca Puga Traverso said Professor Sanders had been warmly welcomed by local stakeholders, with more than 600 people attending his various seminars and masterclasses over three days.

“More than 200 people attended Professor Sanders’ presentation at the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje, where he was invited to talk about positive parenting as a strategy to end violence and promote social development,” said Ms Puga Traverso.

“A lovely story came from question time. A director of a local children’s hospital was there. She said she thought Matt not only deserved scientific awards, but that he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for what he had done for children and families over the world!”

Professor Sanders’ visit was organised by Adriana Alfaro, Director of Fundación Dehvi, which represents Triple P in Costa Rica.

Ms Alfaro said Triple P would have a great positive impact in Costa Rica, just as it had in 24 other countries around the world.

“Triple P is an evidence-based programme and has been shown to work across many diverse cultures,” Ms Alfaro said.

“It is already being delivered in Chile and Costa Rica and is used widely throughout the United States in Spanish-speaking communities.  We look forward to even more families and communities here experiencing how Triple P can improve lives.”

**Triple P has a dedicated Spanish-language website for parents in Chile.    

PICTURED:  Attendees at one of Professor Sanders' presentations in Costa Rica queue for Triple P information.