The Nurturing Skills Competency Scale (NSCS) is a comprehensive criterion referenced measure designed to gather demographic data of the family, as well as knowledge and utilization of Nurturing Parenting practices. The data generated from the pre-post administration of the NSCS allows parents and staff an opportunity to measure changes in family life, knowledge and utilization of Nurturing Parenting practices.
The NSCS consists of six parts:
Part A: About Me
Information in Part A provides very useful information regarding the life conditions of the family. Research data clearly link certain life situations with high levels of stress, which then often correlates highly with family dysfunction. Single parenting, low levels of education, unemployment and poverty contribute to challenging new, nurturing patterns of parenting. Helping parents improve their quality of life is an important factor in supporting new nurturing parenting patterns and preventing the recurrence of abuse.
Part B: About My Childhood
The single most likely predictor of maltreatment as a parent is the degree and frequency of childhood abuse and neglect. Coupled with observing violence between parents and drug and alcohol abuse, dysfunctional parent-child and parent-parent relationships are issues that challenge parents in learning new parenting patterns.
Part C: About My Spouse
Adults who have experienced abuse as children and who have observed abuse between their parents most often learn the ways of victims and perpetrators. Attracting a partner who has had similar dysfunctional childhood experiences fits with their views of themselves and the world in general. The probability of learning and maintaining healthy parenting and relationship skills is increased with social support. Having two parents on the same healthy track in lif
Part D: About My Children and Family
Adults who have experienced abuse as children often end up replicating their abuse. Even if they are not the primary perpetrator, adults from abusive and neglecting childhood homes often lack the skills and awareness of protecting their children from high risk situations. Learning to nurture children includes providing them with a safe and secure environment.
Part E: Knowledge of Nurturing Parenting
Part E consists of 20 multiple choice/ true-false questions about Nurturing Parenting practices and strategies. The questions are independent measures of the content being taught in many of the Program’s lessons. Responses to the questions provide a measure of the understanding parents have regarding these practices.
Part F: Utilization of Nurturing Parenting
In Part F, parents are asked to rate the frequency of their use of skills and strategies being taught in the program. Parents respond on a 4 point rating scale from “don’t practice the skill at all” to “practice the skill regularly.” Pre and post responses provide and indicators of the degree in which parents are using new skills.
Scoring the NSCS
Scoring instructions provide directions for hand scoring the NSCS.
Results of the NSCS
Completion of the NSCS pre and post program provides parents and staff with information regarding the level of understanding and utilization of Nurturing Parenting skills. Scores are converted into familiar and easy to understand letter grades: A (high percentage of items answered correctly), B (above average), C (average), D (below average), and U (Unsatisfactory percentage of items answered correctly). An interpretation accompanying the letter grade provides parents with an understanding of how they can improve their scores.
Posttest scores and grades in Part E: Knowledge of Nurturing Parenting skills are compared to pretest scores and grades to assess changes in knowledge. In Part F: Utilization of Nurturing Parenting, pre and post ratings provide an indicator of the degree in which skills are being practiced.
Data generated from Parts A through F are tabulated in a group summary worksheet from pre and post program administrations. The results indicate the personal and family changes parents and family members have made to improve the quality of their lives. Data also present a comprehensive picture of the families beginning and completing the program. Recognizing the specific family characteristics of drop-outs, recidivists and families who have successfully completed the program allows agencies to make necessary staffing, marketing and programmatic changes.
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