A Behavioral Intervention With Foster Families

Behavior, Social Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of a Behavioral Intervention With Foster Families: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05405972
• Other study ID #: STUDY00000382
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 15, 2022
• Est. completion date: November 30, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: May 2024
• Source: University of Arizona
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

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

Description:

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 95
• Est. completion date: November 30, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: August 30, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 7 Years to 85 Years

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Behavior, Social
• Family Relationship
• Sibling Relations

Intervention

Behavioral:
• The Connected Family Series - For Foster Families
A 4-week program involving videos and activities for both the parent and child in the home.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Arizona	Tucson	Arizona

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Arizona

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	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	After intervention, up to 3 months
Other	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	After intervention, up to 3 months
Primary	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	Before intervention, up to 2 week
Secondary	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	Before intervention, up to 2 weeks

External Links

•   Bruskas, D., & Tessin, D. H. (2013). Adverse childhood experiences and psychosocial well-being of women who were in foster care as children. The Permanente Journal, 17(3), e131-e141.
•   Gypen, L., Vanderfaeillie, J., De Maeyer, S., Belenger, L., & Van Holen, F. (2017). Outcomes of children who grew up in foster care: Systematic-review. Children and Youth Services Review, 76, 74-83
•   Gypen, L., West, D., Van Holen, F., & Vanderfaeillie, J. (2020). Birth children of foster carers: How do they experience the foster care placement. Child and Youth Services Review 109, 104703
•   Turney, K., & Wildeman, C. (2016). Mental and physical health of children in foster care. Pediatrics, 138(5)
•   Vanderfaeillie, J., Van Holen, F., Carlier, E., & Fransen, H. (2018b). Breakdown of foster care placements in Flanders: Incidence and associated factors. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 27(2), 209-220.
•   Wojciak, A. S., McWey, L. M., & Waid, J. (2018). Sibling relationships of youth in foster care: A predictor of resilience. Children and Youth Services Review, 84, 247-254.