Federal and State policymakers recognize PCIT as a successful and effective evidence-based practice. For nearly a decade and a half, the CAARE Center has been a leader in developing PCIT for high-risk and maltreating families, and in disseminating PCIT throughout the world. Based at the UC Davis CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center UC Davis Children's Hospital, Sacramento, CA. Since the early 1990s, the UC Davis CAARE Center began providing PCIT services to children and families and currently provide PCIT services to over 100 families a week. Because we are a large community mental health treatment agency, we are familiar with the challenges that providers have in meeting the mental health needs of the community and the implementation of evidence-based treatment programs.

The CAARE Center staff have also been active in conducting empirical research on the application of PCIT to maltreating families, foster families, Spanish-speaking families, and families involved in domestic violence. We are consistently publishing research which improves service delivery of PCIT through community mental health programs. Since 2000, the UC Davis PCIT Training Center has disseminated and trained over 50 mental health treatment centers throughout the United States and internationally. Each of these agencies has a fully independent PCIT program, with staff that are prepared to train new staff in delivering PCIT services.

PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY is a proven parent-child treatment program that assists parents of children with behavioral problems (aggression, non-compliance, defiance, and temper tantrums). Originally developed by Dr. Sheila Eyberg, PCIT is a unique treatment program that focuses on promoting positive parent-child relationships and interactions while teaching parents effective child management skills. PCIT has been adapted as an intervention for many different types of families (child welfare population, at-risk families, adoptive families, foster families, and other languages including Spanish and Chinese).

PCIT program has two program components.
In the Relationship Enhancement component, parents are taught and coached how to decrease negative aspects of the relationship with their child and to develop consistently positive and supportive communication.
In the Strategies for Compliance component, parents are taught and coached the elements of effective discipline and child management skills. Parents learn and acquire specific skills, practice these skills until mastery is achieved and the child's behavior has improved.

Appropriate Referrals
The most appropriate referrals are children between the ages of 2-7 years who are exhibiting some challenging behavioral issues. PCIT is most effective with young children and parents who want to improve their relationship with their children.