Once the door closes: Understanding the parent–provider relationship

The parent–provider relationship has been purported to be a central mechanism by which home-based parenting education and family support programs affect child and family outcomes. Despite its centrality in the theory of such programs, we have limited knowledge of how this relationship develops and functions, and how it may influence program outcomes. This article describes three levels of examination that can be used to understand the parent–provider relationship, using the example of one evaluation of a statewide home visiting program for teen parents. By examining the relationship on several levels, we are able to demonstrate its complexity, and to begin to explore its many dimensions. In-depth observational methods provide the most sophisticated understanding of the parent–provider relationship.