Description
The Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention was developed to help caregivers with three key issues:
(1) Re-interpret children’s behavioral signals so they can provide nurturing care even when it’s not elicited. Nurturance does not come naturally to many caregivers, but children who have experienced early maltreatment and/or disruptions especially need nurturing care.
(2) Decrease behaviors that may be frightening or overwhelming to the child.
(3) Provide a responsive, predictable environment that develops young children’s regulatory capabilities.
Sessions are conducted in the birth home, adoptive home, foster/kinship home, or via telehealth. The child is involved in the home visits to help parents use new skills in the moment, and parents are expected to observe and note child’s behaviors and practice new skills between sessions. The recommended duration is one hour per week for 10 weeks. ABC also has materials available in English, German, Mandarin, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
Increase caregiver nurturance, sensitivity, and delight; Decrease caregiver frightening behaviors; Increase child attachment security and decrease disorganized attachment; Increase child behavioral and biological regulation
