The overarching goal of the proposed research is to conduct a randomized efficacy trial of a preventive intervention-the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) program-to enhance socioemotional and academic school readiness among preschool-aged foster children. Foster children are at great risk for poor social and academic school outcomes. Because of their experiences of early adversity, these children may have particular vulnerabilities that decrease the likelihood of a successful transition to school. Extensive prior research has shown that chronic early adversity is associated with alterations in the functioning of key neural systems (specifically, prefrontal cortex function and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity) related to self-regulation and stress reactivity. Alterations in these systems may interfere with children's abilities to relate to peers, to maintain focused attention, to follow directions, and to learn academic skills. Additionally, because these children are likely to have experienced multiple living transitions, they may be at a disadvantage in terms of caregiver involvement in school, a critical aspect of early school success. Foster children (N = 200) will be recruited in the spring before they enter kindergarten and will be randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 100) and comparison conditions ("""""""" = 100). The KITS intervention includes four components: (a) 28-sesssions of child therapeutic play groups to facilitate the development of self-regulatory, social, and emergent literacy skills;(b) a 6-session psychoeducational support group to promote caregiver involvement in the child's emergent literacy and schooling and the use of effective parenting techniques;(c) systematic developmental screening and referral;and (d) home- and school-based behavioral consultation. The intervention coincides with the transition into kindergarten. Multi-method, multi-agent assessments of the children's socioemotional readiness and literacy skills will be conducted at baseline, kindergarten entry, and post kindergarten. We will examine the direct effects of the intervention on school readiness and kindergarten outcomes. We will also assess whether intervention effects are mediated through mechanisms of stress reactivity and regulation and caregiver variables. Finally, we will test for moderator effects of child and contextual characteristics including early adversity (prenatal/neonatal health, maltreatment history and placement history), child cognitive functioning, and placement transitions during the course of the study. An additional exploratory aim of the study is to examine intervention effects on first and second grade outcomes for subsamples of children. Group comparisons and longitudinal growth modeling will allow for evaluation of hypotheses.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA021424-05
Application #
7670241
Study Section
Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Study Section (CPDD)
Program Officer
Ginexi, Elizabeth M
Project Start
2005-09-30
Project End
2010-09-14
Budget Start
2009-09-01
Budget End
2010-09-14
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$627,958
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Social Learning Center, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
084418656
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97401
Graham, Alice M; Pears, Katherine C; Kim, Hyoun K et al. (2018) Effects of a school readiness intervention on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning and school adjustment for children in foster care. Dev Psychopathol 30:651-664
Lynch, Frances L; Dickerson, John F; Pears, Katherine C et al. (2017) Cost Effectiveness of a School Readiness Intervention for Foster Children. Child Youth Serv Rev 81:63-71
Pears, Katherine C; Kim, Hyoun K; Fisher, Philip A (2016) Decreasing Risk Factors for Later Alcohol Use and Antisocial Behaviors in Children in Foster Care by Increasing Early Promotive Factors. Child Youth Serv Rev 65:156-165
Roos, Leslie E; Pears, Katherine; Bruce, Jacqueline et al. (2015) Impulsivity and the association between the feedback-related negativity and performance on an inhibitory control task in young at-risk children. Psychophysiology 52:704-13
Pears, Katherine C; Kim, Hyoun K; Buchanan, Rohanna et al. (2015) Adverse Consequences of School Mobility for Children in Foster Care: A Prospective Longitudinal Study. Child Dev 86:1210-1226
Lynch, Frances L; Dickerson, John F; Saldana, Lisa et al. (2014) Incremental Net Benefit of Early Intervention for Preschool-Aged Children with Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Foster Care. Child Youth Serv Rev 36:213-219
Pears, Katherine C; Healey, Cynthia V; Fisher, Philip A et al. (2014) Immediate Effects of a Program to Promote School Readiness in Low-Income Children: Results of a Pilot Study. Educ Treat Children 37:431-460
Delker, Brianna C; Noll, Laura K; Kim, Hyoun K et al. (2014) Maternal abuse history and self-regulation difficulties in preadolescence. Child Abuse Negl 38:2033-43
Fisher, Philip A; Mannering, Anne M; Van Scoyoc, Amanda et al. (2013) A translational neuroscience perspective on the importance of reducing placement instability among foster children. Child Welfare 92:9-36
Pears, Katherine C; Kim, Hyoun K; Fisher, Philip A et al. (2013) Early school engagement and late elementary outcomes for maltreated children in foster care. Dev Psychol 49:2201-11

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