A Behavioral Intervention With Foster Families

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Family Relationship; Sibling Relations; Behavior, Social
• Interventions: Behavioral: The Connected Family Series - For Foster Families

• Registration Number: NCT05405972
• Lead Sponsor: University of Arizona

Brief Summary

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

Detailed 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.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-05-05
• Study Start: 2022-05-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-31
• Study First Posted: 2022-06-06
• Primary Completion: 2022-08-30
• Study Completion: 2023-11-30
• Status Verified: 2024-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-05-02
• Last Update Posted: 2024-05-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 95

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group Receiving Intervention	The Connected Family Series - For Foster Families	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Family Hardiness Index	Before intervention, up to 2 week	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

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sibling Inventory of Behavior	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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Arizona; 🇺🇸 Tucson, Arizona, United States