OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to measure the quantity and quality of stimulants available in caregiving environment of children with behavioural problems. THEORETICAL BASE: This study was guided by the ecological systems theory developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, where we measured some of the factors in the home environment that influences children’s development. METHODS: The research design we used in this study was cross-sectional survey, where we measured the home environments of children using the MC-HOME Inventory, a standardized questionnaire developed by Caldwell and Bradley. OUTCOMES: We found an overall mean of 42.35 ± 6.73, from the 59 items provided in the MC- HOME Inventory. From each of the 8 subscales in the Inventory, we observed that responsivity had the highest mean of 9.3+1.63 (max. 9), followed by learning material and opportunity with a mean of 5.65 + 1.27 (max. 7), and the 3rd position, enrichment, had a mean of 5.60 + 2.04 (max. 8). SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: There is need for field social workers to engage parents on the whole process of re-educating children, especially on how to set the right emotional climate at home that promotes the development of children.

Comenius University in Bratislava Department of Social Work Bratislava Slovakia

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