This proposal is a continuation of an NIMH funded study entitled the Cascading Dissemination of a Foster Parent Intervention (MH60195, Patti Chamberlain, PI). Designed as a modified version of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC), the intervention (entitled Keep - Keeping Foster Parents Trained and Supported) focused on reducing the behavior problems of children between the ages of 5 to 12 who are in regular foster care. The results of this effectiveness trial revealed that the intervention was effective in reducing levels of child behavior problems, increasing parental use targeted parenting strategies, increasing the number of positive exits from the home (e.g., reunifications with biological parents, adoptions), and mitigating placement disruptions (e.g., removing a child at the request of a foster parent) for children with a history of multiple placements changes. As a result, the Child Welfare Services division of the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) began implementation of the KEEP intervention through a private mental health services contractor (Social Advocates for Youth San Diego - SAY). The primary goal of the current proposal is to utilize this opportunity as a real-world platform for addressing three key questions that need to be answered prior to wide-scale implementation of the KEEP intervention. First, do the effects of the KEEP parent training generalize (concurrently) to other children currently in foster and kin intervention homes and lead to reductions in overall levels of behavior problems? Second, does the KEEP intervention continue to have effects after the completion of the intervention and generalize (temporally) to new children who enter the homes of these families at a later point in time? Finally, as the KEEP intervention is being implemented by a community agency in a real-world system of care, can the intervention be delivered and maintained in a manner that preserves the goals and quality of the intervention? Children in foster care, between the ages of 5 and 12 will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions - the KEEP intervention or a """"""""services as usual"""""""" condition. In the KEEP intervention condition, foster and kin caregivers will participate in 16 weekly group meetings. Outcomes to be assessed include child problem behavior (of the focal child and other children in the household), child functioning, parental stress, family functioning, use of mental health services, child placement changes (e.g., reunification with biological parents, move to another foster home), and foster parent retention rates. In addition, for a year following the completion of the intervention, new children entering the home of foster/kin caregiver will be included in the assessments, along with the impact of these additional children on parental stress and family functioning. Finally, several dimensions of intervention fidelity (e.g., facilitator adherence and group engagement) will be assessed and examined in relation to child, family, and system outcomes.

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative Implementation of evidence-based interventions into community settings has become a public health priority. The primary goal of the proposed study is to examine the fidelity and generalization of parenting effects of the KEEP foster parent training intervention as it is being delivered within a child welfare system of care by a community mental health provider. The KEEP intervention is designed to reduce child behavior problems, decrease the need for mental health services, and reduce placement disruptions among children in foster care. The findings from this investigation have the potential to contribute to preparation for wide scale implementation of the KEEP intervention and have the potential to influence the mental health needs of children in foster care both within and outside the San Diego region.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01MH060195-06A1
Application #
7730535
Study Section
Mental Health Services in Non-Specialty Settings (SRNS)
Program Officer
Goldstein, Amy B
Project Start
2000-07-24
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2009-08-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$678,565
Indirect Cost
Name
San Diego State University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073371346
City
San Diego
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92182
Perry, Kristin J; Price, Joseph M (2018) Concurrent child history and contextual predictors of children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in foster care. Child Youth Serv Rev 84:125-136
Price, Joseph M; Roesch, Scott; Walsh, Natalia E et al. (2015) Effects of the KEEP Foster Parent Intervention on Child and Sibling Behavior Problems and Parental Stress During a Randomized Implementation Trial. Prev Sci 16:685-95
Buchanan, Rohanna; Chamberlain, Patricia; Price, Joseph M et al. (2013) Examining the equivalence of fidelity over two generations of KEEP implementation: A preliminary analysis. Child Youth Serv Rev 35:188-193
Goldhaber-Fiebert, Jeremy D; Bailey, Stephanie L; Hurlburt, Michael S et al. (2012) Evaluating child welfare policies with decision-analytic simulation models. Adm Policy Ment Health 39:466-77
Price, Joseph M; Roesch, Scott; Walsh, Natalia Escobar (2012) Effectiveness of the KEEP Foster Parent Intervention during an Implementation Trial. Child Youth Serv Rev 34:2487-2494
Degarmo, David S; Chamberlain, Patricia; Leve, Leslie D et al. (2009) Foster Parent Intervention Engagement Moderating Child Behavior Problems and Placement Disruption. Res Soc Work Pract 19:423-433
Leve, Leslie D; Fisher, Philip A; Chamberlain, Patricia (2009) Multidimensional treatment foster care as a preventive intervention to promote resiliency among youth in the child welfare system. J Pers 77:1869-902
Chamberlain, Patricia; Price, Joseph; Reid, John et al. (2008) Cascading implementation of a foster and kinship parent intervention. Child Welfare 87:27-48
Chamberlain, Patricia; Price, Joe; Leve, Leslie D et al. (2008) Prevention of behavior problems for children in foster care: outcomes and mediation effects. Prev Sci 9:17-27
Price, Joseph M; Chamberlain, Patricia; Landsverk, John et al. (2008) Effects of a foster parent training intervention on placement changes of children in foster care. Child Maltreat 13:64-75

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