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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.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Receiving Intervention | Experimental | The intervention group receives a link each week connecting them to the videos for both parents and children as well as a communicating/connecting activity. The intervention is self-paced over a 4 week period. The intervention was titled the Connected Family Series - For Foster Families (CFS-FF) (further referred to as the intervention) and was created/adapted in partnership from the Connected Family Series (CFS) by psychologists at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Childhood Development (KPICD). A letter of support from the KPICD is available in Appendix D. Adaptation was needed as the original intervention was geared toward adoptive families and excluded foster families. This process was done with the original creator (Dr. Jana Hunsley) with members of the research team and fostering community. |
|
| Control Group | No Intervention | Families in the control group receive no video links during the 4 week period. Families assigned to the control do have the opportunity to participate in the intervention post-data collection and analysis and outside of the research protocol. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Connected Family Series - For Foster Families | Behavioral | A 4-week program involving videos and activities for both the parent and child in the home. |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Sibling Inventory of Behavior |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Christine Platt, DNP/PhD | University of Arizona | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson | Arizona | 85721 | United States |
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| Label | URL |
|---|---|
| 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 | View source |
| 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 | View source |
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| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot | Yes | No | No | Study Protocol | Jan 1, 2022 | May 28, 2022 | Prot_000.pdf |
| SAP | No | Yes | No | Statistical Analysis Plan | Oct 25, 2021 | May 28, 2022 | SAP_001.pdf |
| ICF | No | No | Yes | Informed Consent Form | Jan 4, 2022 | May 28, 2022 | ICF_002.pdf |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012919 | Social Behavior |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001519 | Behavior |
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This study employed a randomized control trial design of a behavioral intervention with foster families caring for a CDFC as well as a permanent child in the home. The intervention tested is self-paced and delivered via technology to include foster families in rural and underserved locations. Behavioral changes of caregivers and children in the home were predicted to improve family functioning and facilitate healing from relationship-based trauma and its associated symptoms. Stratified randomization was used to assign participants into the experimental or control group. Blinding of the two groups to participants was not done (participants knew whether or not they received the video intervention). However, the team blinded the statistical analysis to group with the use of a statistician. Families assigned to the control did have the opportunity to participate in the intervention post-data collection and analysis and outside of the research protocol.
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Randomization to group was blinded and done by an independent statistician.
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| Before intervention, up to 2 weeks |
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 |
| 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. | View source |
| 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. | View source |