The Children And Parents Service (CAPS): A Multi-Agency Early Intervention Initiative for Young Children and their Families.

Behaviour problems make up approximately 30-50% of all referrals to child and adolescent mental health services. Behavioural parent training is one of the most effective interventions for young children. However, those families most at risk of difficulties fail to access services. This paper outlines the Children And Parents Service (CAPS), a citywide multi-agency, early intervention service to young children and their families. The intervention includes parent training groups, multi-agency training and liaison in community settings. The model of service delivery is outlined and the obstacles to service implementation and the strategies used to overcome them are discussed. The service has adopted a well validated evidence-based model of parent training, monitoring of outcomes and user involvement, and is delivered in the wider context of multi-agency systems. A thorough evaluation of service delivery models, including CAPS, would be beneficial. Whilst research trials examine the efficacy of treatments, the effective delivery of treatments within clinical services requires clarity about the place of the intervention within wider systems. The CAPS model proposes a framework for delivering interventions within these systems.