This report presents the findings of five case studies of promising or successful parenting support programmes in four different countries: England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The overall goal was to obtain in-depth knowledge of the success factors of parent- and family-focused (home-based) approaches to improving the quality of family environments. The study was designed to shed light on how promising or already proven-to-be successful programmes overcome existing challenges and ensure high outreach and process quality.

Findings focus on the strategies of the selected programmes concerning outreach, cooperation, personal and professional requirements, first language support and use of Innovative Communication Technologies (ICT). Successful or promising approaches seem to be characterized not by a single key factor, but by the interplay of core principles which may be different depending on the societal context and may change over time.

The report ends by providing recommendations for programme developers/managers and policy makers, focusing on three key moments: before, after and during the implementation of a programme. The authors recommend studying the characteristics and needs of the target group and adapting the outreach strategy and contents of the programme accordingly. Other recommendations include developing a vision and strategy of leadership and selecting qualified staff aligned to the programme’s mission and committed to create trust with the target group. The authors highlight that policy makers should provide suitable and long-term funding, including specific financial support for staff’s training and for comprehensive evaluation studies.