Mental Health Services for Toddlers in Foster Care
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 2 - 3 |
| Updated: | 12/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | April 2010 |
| End Date: | December 2016 |
Toddlers (2- to 3-year-old children) in foster care often have difficulty regulating
behavior and biology, and are at risk for a host of mental health problems. Critical issues
for toddlers straddle the challenges of infancy and preschool years. In particular, toddlers
in foster care face significant challenges in forming new attachment relationships and
developing behavioral and biological regulatory capabilities. This project will assess the
effectiveness of an intervention that targets these issues. Attachment and Biobehavioral
Catch-up for Toddlers in Foster Care (ABC-T) was developed to help parents: provide
nurturing care so that children develop secure, trusting relationships; and supporting
children when they become overwhelmed that enhance children's ability to regulate behavior
and biology. This intervention's effectiveness will be assessed in a randomized clinical
trial.
behavior and biology, and are at risk for a host of mental health problems. Critical issues
for toddlers straddle the challenges of infancy and preschool years. In particular, toddlers
in foster care face significant challenges in forming new attachment relationships and
developing behavioral and biological regulatory capabilities. This project will assess the
effectiveness of an intervention that targets these issues. Attachment and Biobehavioral
Catch-up for Toddlers in Foster Care (ABC-T) was developed to help parents: provide
nurturing care so that children develop secure, trusting relationships; and supporting
children when they become overwhelmed that enhance children's ability to regulate behavior
and biology. This intervention's effectiveness will be assessed in a randomized clinical
trial.
This study assesses the efficacy of a 10-session intervention for young children in the
foster care system. Children are randomly assigned to the experimental condition (ABC-T) or
to a treatment control (DEF). In the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up for Toddlers
(ABC-T) condition, children's foster parents receive an intervention that focuses on
nurturance, following children's lead, and helping children settle when they become
overwhelmed. In the Developmental Education for Families (DEF) intervention, children's
foster parents receive an intervention that focuses on enhancing children's cognitive and
motor skills. Both of the interventions are provided in families' homes for 10 sessions of
about 60 minutes duration. Outcomes include attachment (assessed in the Preschool Strange
Situation), cortisol production (assessed diurnally), child behavior problems (assessed
through laboratory procedures that stress children), and through psychiatric interviews.
foster care system. Children are randomly assigned to the experimental condition (ABC-T) or
to a treatment control (DEF). In the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up for Toddlers
(ABC-T) condition, children's foster parents receive an intervention that focuses on
nurturance, following children's lead, and helping children settle when they become
overwhelmed. In the Developmental Education for Families (DEF) intervention, children's
foster parents receive an intervention that focuses on enhancing children's cognitive and
motor skills. Both of the interventions are provided in families' homes for 10 sessions of
about 60 minutes duration. Outcomes include attachment (assessed in the Preschool Strange
Situation), cortisol production (assessed diurnally), child behavior problems (assessed
through laboratory procedures that stress children), and through psychiatric interviews.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 2 -3 years of age, in foster care
Exclusion Criteria:
- Not in foster care
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