Taking Care Triple P for Foster Parents With Young Children in Foster Care: Results of a 1-Year Randomized Trial

Young children with a history of maltreatment or neglect in foster families often confront their caregivers with particularly challenging behaviors. This may lead to more parenting stress, an increased risk for the child in foster care to experience further maltreatment, and placement disruptions. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of a parent group training tailored to the special needs of foster families. We hypothesized significant short- and long-term improvements regarding foster parents’ parenting competencies, child mental health problems, and related outcomes. Eighty-one families with 87 children in foster care aged 2 to 7 years participated in the trial. For the intervention study, 44 randomly selected families (54%) were offered to participate in the parent group training. Intervention and control group families were reassessed three times over a period of 1 year. Contrary to our expectations, we found no advantages of the intervention group compared with the usual care control group on any outcome measure. Instead, we found some significant changes in both groups across time. Placement into foster care is associated with some favorable outcomes for children in foster care. Additional support for foster families beyond the services delivered in the youth welfare system to foster parents was not associated with more favorable outcomes. The present intervention is likely associated with a low risk of harm but also with a high likelihood of a lack of significant benefits for foster parents and their young children going beyond feeling satisfied about the delivered services. Participating foster families showed favorable baseline results on parenting measures which may have impeded intervention effects to unfold on these proximal variables.

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Foster Parents’ Parenting and the Social-Emotional Development and Adaptive Functioning of Children in Foster Care: A PRISMA-Guided Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review ◽

10.1007/s10567-020-00336-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sabrina Chodura ◽

Arnold Lohaus ◽

Tabea Symanzik ◽

Nina Heinrichs ◽

Kerstin Konrad

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Child Development ◽

Literature Review ◽

Foster Parents ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Developmental Outcomes ◽

Parenting Behavior ◽

Foster Families ◽

Children In Foster Care ◽

Increased Risk

AbstractChildren in foster care (CFC) are at increased risk for negative developmental outcomes. Given the potential influence of foster parents’ parenting on the development of CFC, this literature review and meta-analysis provide an initial overview of how parenting factors in foster families relate to CFC’s developmental outcomes. We aimed to explore (1) whether foster parents’ parenting conceptualizations are related differently to various CFC developmental outcome variables and (2) how characteristics of foster parents and CFC moderate these associations. Following the recommendations of the PRISMA statement, we searched four databases in 2017 (with an update in May 2020). Forty-three primary studies were coded manually. The interrater agreement was 92.1%. Parenting variables were specified as parenting behavior, style, and goals and were distinguished further into functional and dysfunctional parenting. CFC development was divided into adaptive (including cognitive) development and maladaptive development. Meta-analyses could be performed for foster parenting behavior and developmental outcomes, as well as for functional parenting goals and maladaptive socioemotional outcomes in CFC. Associations between functional parenting behavior and adaptive child development were positive and negative for maladaptive child development, respectively. For dysfunctional, parenting effects were in the opposite direction. All effects were small to moderate. Similar results were found descriptively in the associations of parenting style and child developmental outcomes. We found similar effect sizes and directions of the associations between parenting behavior in foster families and the child’s developmental outcomes as those previously reported for biological families. These findings provide strong support for the significant role of parenting in foster families regarding children’s development in foster care.

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ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children

Children ◽

10.3390/children8050405 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 405

Author(s):

María Peñarrubia ◽

Ignasi Navarro-Soria ◽

Jesús Palacios ◽

Javier Fenollar-Cortés

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Foster Care ◽

Control Group ◽

Foster Families ◽

Executive Performance ◽

General Ability ◽

Hyperactive Behavior ◽

Children In Foster Care ◽

Intellectual Capacity

Children in foster care have a high prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, together with other difficulties in inattentive/hyperactive behaviors, executive and cognitive processes. Early exposure to adversity is a risk factor for developing ADHD via neurodevelopmental pathways. The goal of this research is (a) to study the cognitive and executive performance and inattentive/hyperactive behavior of ADHD-diagnosed children living in foster families in Spain, and (b) to analyze the role of placement variables in their performance. The sample was composed of 102 ADHD-diagnosed children aged 6- to 12-years-old, divided into two groups: 59 children living with non-relative foster families and 43 children not involved with protection services. Children’s executive function–inhibition, working memory, flexibility, attention, intellectual capacity, verbal comprehension, perceptive reasoning, working memory and processing speed were assessed using objective testing measures. At the same time, parents and teachers reported on children’s inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. Children in foster care obtained lower scores in the general ability index than the control group after controlling the age at assessment. However, no differences were found in executive processes. Regarding placement factors, children with shorter exposure to adversities in their birth families and more time in foster care showed better executive performance. Professionals should consider the placement history of children in foster care and its influence on their symptomatology and cognitive capacities.

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In-home parent-child interaction therapy with foster parents and children in foster care

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e567162014-001 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Christina Danko ◽

Karen S. Budd

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Foster Parents ◽

Parent Child Interaction Therapy ◽

Children In Foster Care ◽

Child Interaction ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Parent Child Interaction ◽

Parent Child

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Effects of an attachment-based intervention on the cortisol production of infants and toddlers in foster care

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579408000400 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 845-859 ◽

Cited By ~ 236

Author(s):

Mary Dozier ◽

Elizabeth Peloso ◽

Erin Lewis ◽

Jean-Philippe Laurenceau ◽

Seymour Levine

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Developmental Education ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Strange Situation ◽

Initial Values ◽

Children In Foster Care ◽

Control Intervention ◽

And Behavior

AbstractStudies with nonhuman primates and rodents, as well as with human children, have suggested that early separations from caregivers are often associated with changes in the functioning of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. On the basis of these findings, we designed a relational intervention that was intended to normalize HPA functioning among children in foster care. This paper presents findings from a randomized clinical trial that assessed the effectiveness of a relational intervention (Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up [ABC]) with regard to HPA functioning. The ABC intervention was intended to enhance children's ability to regulate physiology and behavior. The control intervention (Developmental Education for Families) was intended to enhance children's cognitive skills. A comparison group of children who had never been in foster care was also included. Children's cortisol production was assessed upon arrival at the lab, and 15 and 30 min following the Strange Situation. Random effects analyses of variance were performed to assess differences in initial values and change between children in the two intervention groups. Children in the ABC intervention and comparison group children showed lower initial values of cortisol than children in the treatment control group, considering arrival at lab as initial values (p < .05). Groups did not differ significantly in change over time. These results suggest that the ABC intervention is effective in helping children regulate biology in ways more characteristic of children who have not experienced early adversity.

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Identification of social-emotional problems among young children in foster care

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02315.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 51 (12) ◽

pp. 1351-1358 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Sandra H. Jee ◽

Anne-Marie Conn ◽

Peter G. Szilagyi ◽

Aaron Blumkin ◽

Constance D. Baldwin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Young Children ◽

Emotional Problems ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Children In Foster Care

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Developmental Status of Young Children in Foster Care

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics ◽

10.1097/dbp.0000000000000906 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Jill D. McLeigh ◽

Karlyn Tunnell ◽

Cecilia Lazcano

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Young Children ◽

Developmental Status ◽

Children In Foster Care

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Youth in Foster Care and the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard

Child Maltreatment ◽

10.1177/1077559520957748 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107755952095774

Author(s):

Amanda Stafford McRell ◽

Christian E. Holmes ◽

Akanksha Singh ◽

Sue E. Levkoff ◽

Benjamin Schooley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Extracurricular Activities ◽

Foster Parents ◽

District Of Columbia ◽

State Level ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Us States ◽

Healthy Development ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Children In Foster Care

Children in foster care face disproportionate rates of biopsychosocial challenges but social and extracurricular activities (SEAs) may support their healthy development. The Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard (RPPS), a 2014 federal policy, aims to increase access to these opportunities for children in foster care. Analyses of statutes from 50 US states and the District of Columbia (n = 51) revealed similarities and differences in state-level RPPS policy implementation. Building on these findings, researchers conducted semi-structured retrospective telephone interviews with foster parents across one southeastern state (n = 20) to identify local retrospective perspectives on RPPS implementation. Using thematic inductive coding two unique themes emerged about SEAs prior to RPPS: 1) negative social impacts and 2) complicated activity approval processes. Three unique themes emerged after RPPS: 1) empowerment, 2) implementation disparities and 3) resource recommendations. Policy implications include the need to support foster parents by increasing resources (funding, transportation, access), clarifying liability and clarifying motivation expectations.

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Developmental Services for Young Children in Foster Care

Journal of Social Service Research ◽

10.1300/j079v33n02_03 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 27-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Aubyn C. Stahmer ◽

Laurel K. Leslie ◽

John A. Landsverk ◽

Jinjin Zhang ◽

Jennifer A. Rolls

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Young Children ◽

Children In Foster Care ◽

Developmental Services

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Family-Centered Practice with Foster-Parent Families

Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services ◽

10.1606/1044-3894.971 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 77 (9) ◽

pp. 545-558 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Emily Jean McFadden

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Foster Parents ◽

Foster Parent ◽

Family Care ◽

Foster Families ◽

Critical Issues ◽

Family Style ◽

Specialized Foster Care ◽

Work Done ◽

Family Centered

Foster parents face many stresses in their family life, whether they provide kinship care, general foster care, specialized foster care, or treatment family care. Critical issues include maintaining open boundaries while sustaining cohesion and integrity of the core family structure. Pressures from the agency, the community, the foster child, and his or her parents affect the way in which this family style functions. Focusing on the work done by family-centered practitioners with foster parents facing various types of developmental and situational crises, the author examines the responses of foster families to the multiple and chronic experiences of loss that they face. Guidelines for practitioners include placement issues, therapeutic issues, and knowledge of systems that clinicians need to work effectively with foster-parent families. Case materials illustrate the crises of dismemberment and demoralization as well as the crisis of accession.

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