A Behavioral Intervention With Foster Families

University of Arizona95 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate a behavioral intervention with foster families.

Study Aims: This study aims to investigate a technology-delivered family (sibling inclusive) intervention. Focus is on increasing family hardiness and preparation to care for children with disabilities and special needs in foster care. Three aims include: (1) establish the feasibility of the technology-based, family-centered intervention (2) explore in a preliminary manner the effects of the intervention on stress and relational quality outcomes among family member participants, and (3) an exploratory aim to determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the intervention on diurnal salivary cortisol levels within the foster family population. Methods: This study employs a randomized control trial design of a behavioral intervention with both a control and experimental group. The intervention tested was created in partnership and adapted from the Connected Family Series (CFS) by psychologists at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Childhood Development and is called the Connected Family Series - For Foster Families (CFS-FF). Adaptation was needed as the original intervention was geared toward adoptive families and excluded foster families. The CFS-FF also needed content specific to fostering children with special needs. Stress and relational quality outcomes among members will be measured using the concepts of family hardiness, preparedness, and relationship development through a self-report questionnaire which include the Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Integrating Foster Children (IFC) subscale from the Casey Foster Applicant Inventory (CFAI), and the Sibling Inventory of Behavior (SIB), respectively. Participation in the study spanned three to four months; one month for recruitment and collection of baseline data, one month for the intervention, and one-month post-intervention data collection. Exploratory aim 3 will be achieved by an objective indicator of stress-related biology, saliva diurnal cortisol rhythm, before and after completion of the intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Family Relationship Sibling Relations Behavior, Social

Interventions

The Connected Family Series - For Foster FamiliesBEHAVIORAL

A 4-week program involving videos and activities for both the parent and child in the home.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 7 YearsMax age: 85 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. licensed foster families 2. must have at least one permanent child (biological or adopted) living in the home before the foster or newly adopted child entered the home 3. at least one foster or foster-to-adopt child placed in the home 4. all participants other than the foster or foster-to-adopt child must be proficient in English Exclusion Criteria: 1. Non-English speaking 2. No permanent sibling between the ages of 7 at 17 3. No current foster placement living in the home 4. Designated as a group home 5. Greater than six children living in the home

Locations (1)

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Family Hardiness Index

Psychometrically validated self-report tool for family functioning. Unabbreviated scale title: Family Hardiness Index Min Value: 0 Max Value: 60 Higher Score means better/improvement in hardiness

Time frame: Before intervention, up to 2 week

Secondary Outcomes

Sibling Inventory of Behavior

Psychometrically validated self-report tool for sibling relationships. Unabbreviated scale title: Sibling Inventory of Behavior (Positive) Min Value: 15 Max Value: 75 Higher Score means there are more positive outcomes between the siblings Unabbreviated scale title: Sibling Inventory of Behavior (Negative) Min Value: 17 Max Value: 85 Higher Score means there are more negative outcomes between the siblings

Time frame: Before intervention, up to 2 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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