title: Multiple Family Groups for Child Behavior Difficulties Retention Among Child Welfare-Involved Caregivers.
abstract: Among children who remain at home with their permanent caregivers following a child welfare investigation, few who manifest emotional and behavioral difficulties actually engage in mental health treatment. The Multiple Family Group service delivery model to reduce childhood disruptive behavior disorders (MFG) has shown promise in engaging child welfare-involved families. This qualitative study examines caregiver perceptions of factors that influence retention in MFGs among child welfare-involved families.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five predominantly Black and Hispanic adult (ages 26-57) female caregivers with child welfare services involvement participated in individual, in-depth interviews about their experience with MFGs. Transcribed interview data were thematically coded guided by grounded theory methodology. Emergent themes were subsequently organized into a conceptual framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the overarching influence of child welfare services involvement, specific components of MFGs influencing retention included the quality of interaction among group members, group facilitators' attentive approach with caregivers, supports designed to overcome logistical barriers (i.e., child care, transportation expenses, meals), and perceptions of MFG content and activities as fun and helpful. Caregiver factors, including their mental health and personal characteristics, as well as children's behavior, (i.e., observed changes in behavioral difficulties) were also associated with retention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High acceptability suggest utility for implementing MFGs within settings serving child welfare involved families, with additional modifications to tailor to setting and client features.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Social Work, New York University Silver School of Social Work.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gopalan
authors.affiliation: New York University Silver School of Social Work.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuss
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute.
authors.forename: Jennifer P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wisdom
keywords: Child Mental Health; Child Welfare; Multiple Family Groups; Retention