scholarly journals “Fostering” Effective Foster Parent Training Programs : Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adaptations for the Child Welfare Setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Robin C. Han ◽  
Christopher K. Owen ◽  
Corey C. Lieneman ◽  
Cheryl B. McNeil
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Externalizing Behavior ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Empirically Supported Treatment ◽  
Parent Child Interaction Therapy ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child

Foster parents face considerable challenges in caring for children in the child welfare system, many of whom have significant behavioral difficulties [1]. Foster parents often lack the training and support needed to manage these externalizing behaviors, which contribute to parenting stress and are highly predictive of placement breakdowns [2, 3]. Although child welfare agencies provide foster parents with pre-service training experiences, they often lack the capacity and financial resources to implement gold standard, evidence-based interventions that address child behavior difficulties. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) has been well-established as an empirically supported treatment for disruptive behavior, yet standard delivery of PCIT to children in the foster care system is often impractical due to time, financial, childcare, and personnel constraints. Adaptations of PCIT for the foster care setting may remove some of these barriers to treatment. These adaptations have typically retained the parent-coaching principles inherent to PCIT but replaced the traditional 12- to 20-week format with a shorter, less intensive treatment regimen in order to maintain feasibility within the child welfare context. Preliminary findings from studies using abbreviated formats of PCIT suggest effectiveness of such adaptations in reducing externalizing behavior in foster children and maintaining behavioral improvements several months after the end of the treatment.

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: Findings from an exploratory qualitative study with practitioners and foster parents

2020 ◽  
pp. 147332502091772
Author(s):  
Katelyn Blair ◽  
James Topitzes ◽  
Erin N Winkler ◽  
Cheryl B McNeil
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Foster Parent ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Parent Child Interaction Therapy ◽  
Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child

This exploratory study examines practitioners’ and foster parents’ perceptions on use of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy in child welfare. Focus groups were completed with Parent–Child Interaction Therapy practitioners and foster parents. Thematic analysis was employed, and four main themes were analyzed. First, practitioners and foster parents identified implementation barriers. Second, practitioners and foster parents identified factors that facilitate implementation. While practitioners perceived benefits from on-going consultation, foster parents favored treatment flexibility and a strong therapeutic alliance with practitioners. Third, practitioners and foster parents found that the integration of trauma principles into Parent–Child Interaction Therapy helped to meet the needs of the child welfare population. Finally, the translation of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy into child welfare may be facilitated by model adaptations, such as brief treatments, and integrating Parent–Child Interaction Therapy into pre-service foster parent trainings. Findings are discussed within the context of the relevant literature, and recommendations for future areas of study are proposed.

Adapting Parent–Child Interaction Therapy to Foster Care

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua P. Mersky ◽  
James Topitzes ◽  
Stacey D. Grant-Savela ◽  
Michael J. Brondino ◽  
Cheryl B. McNeil
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Parent Child Interaction Therapy ◽  
Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child

Treating Externalizing Behaviors in Toddlers with ASD Traits Using Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddlers: A Case Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 153465012096985
Author(s):  
Sara Cibralic ◽  
Jane Kohlhoff ◽  
Nancy Wallace ◽  
Catherine McMahon ◽  
Valsamma Eapen
Keyword(s):  
Externalizing Behavior ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Attachment Relationship ◽  
Parent Child Interaction Therapy ◽  
Child Attachment ◽  
Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child Interaction ◽  
Parent Child

Up to 27% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience clinically significant externalizing behavior. Child emotional dysregulation is thought to be one of the main reasons for the manifestation of externalizing behaviors during toddlerhood and has also been associated with insecure and disorganized parent-child attachment relationships. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddlers (PCIT-T) is an attachment and behavioral based parent training program targeted at children aged 12 to 24 months with externalizing behavior. This study assessed the effectiveness of PCIT-T in reducing child externalizing behavior as well as improving child emotional regulation and the parent-child attachment relationship in a child with moderate-to-severe ASD traits, low intellectual and adaptive functioning, externalizing behaviors within the clinical range, and a disorganized/insecure mother-child attachment relationship. The intervention occurred over a 12-week period and focused on improving positive parenting skills, parent emotional regulation, and child emotional regulation. Treatment progress was tracked using the Child Behavior Checklist Externalizing Behavior subscale, the Deverux Early Childhood Assessment for Toddlers Attachment/Relationship and Self-Regulation subscales, the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System, version 4, and the Strange Situation Procedure. Study results provide preliminary support for the use of PCIT-T in reducing externalizing behavior, improving the parent-child attachment relationship and child emotional regulation. These results indicate that PCIT-T can be beneficial for children with ASD traits, however, further research with a larger sample size is needed to strength these findings.

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