Effects of a foster parent training intervention on placement changes of children in foster care.
Placement disruptions undermine efforts of child welfare agencies to promote safety, permanency, and child well-being. Child behavior problems significantly contribute to placement changes. The aims of this investigation were to examine the impact of a foster parent training and support intervention (KEEP) on placement changes and to determine whether the intervention mitigates placement disruption risks associated with children's placement histories. The sample included 700 families with children between ages 5 and 12 years, from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Families were randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. The number of prior placements was predictive of negative exits from current foster placements. The intervention increased chances of a positive exit (e.g., parent/child reunification) and mitigated the risk-enhancing effect of a history of multiple placements. Incorporating intervention approaches based on a parent management training model into child welfare services may improve placement outcomes for children in foster care.
Price
Joseph M
JM
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA. jprice@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Chamberlain
Patricia
P
Landsverk
John
J
Reid
John B
JB
Leve
Leslie D
LD
Laurent
Heidemarie
H
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002668:Child Rearing; D054541:Family Conflict; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models