Improving the Odds for the Healthy Development of Young Children in Foster Care: Executive Summary

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.

Download Full-text

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

Download Full-text

Addressing the Developmental and Mental Health Needs of Young Children in Foster Care

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics ◽

10.1097/00004703-200504000-00011 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 140-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

LAUREL K. LESLIE ◽

JEANNE N. GORDON ◽

KATINA LAMBROS ◽

KAMILA PREMJI ◽

JOHN PEOPLES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Foster Care ◽

Young Children ◽

Health Needs ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Children In Foster Care

Download Full-text

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

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520909196 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052090919

Author(s):

Ann-Katrin Job ◽

Daniela Ehrenberg ◽

Peter Hilpert ◽

Vanessa Reindl ◽

Arnold Lohaus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Young Children ◽

Foster Parents ◽

Challenging Behaviors ◽

Control Group ◽

Triple P ◽

Group Training ◽

Foster Families ◽

Parent Group ◽

Children In Foster Care

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.

Download Full-text