KIPS: An Evidence-Based Tool for Assessing Parenting Strengths and Needs in Diverse Families

The movement toward evidence-based practices has stimulated greater interest in assessing parenting outcomes. The purpose of these studies was to further validate the Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS), a structured observational assessment of parenting quality, with 397 diverse families. Factor analysis demonstrated that the 12 KIPS items comprise one construct that explained 60% of the variance and showed high internal consistency (the Cronbach's alpha = 0.95). Analyses of KIPS mean scores did not detect significant differences in parenting quality among African American, White, and Latino parents observed during parent-child play. Parents rated by home visitors as more engaged in services showed higher quality parenting (r = 0.22, P < .0001). KIPS scores correlated significantly with the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale Caregiver Total (r = 0.35, P = .0001) and subscales (Response to Distress r = 0.38, P < .0001; Social-Emotional Growth Fostering r = 0.29, P = .001; Cognitive Growth Fostering r = 0.19, P = .03), and Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment subscales (Acceptance r = 0.23, P = .01; Responsivity r = 0.19, P = .038). These findings, together with previous research, demonstrate the reliability, validity, evaluative value, and clinical relevance of KIPS. KIPS offers a practical tool that providers can use in collaboration with families to tailor services to diverse families, track progress, and demonstrate outcomes.