Chicago Parent Program for Foster and Kinship Caregivers

NCT06170047 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: R01HD105727
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The primary objective of this study is to test the effects of an evidence-based prevention intervention (CPP) adapted for foster and kinship caregivers of young children (FC; foster care) on caregiver competence and child behavior problems for children in foster care compared with an active comparator group that receives standard supports through the child welfare and healthcare systems (i.e., usual care).

Conditions

Behavior Problem; Parenting

Keywords

Foster care; Child behavior; Parenting skills; Behavioral health; Prevention; Parenting confidence; Parenting stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Parental Stress Scale

  The Parental Stress Scale is an 18-item questionnaire that assesses parental stress relating to parental sensitivity to the child, child behavior, and quality of the caregiver-child relationship. Items are rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 5 ("Strongly agree"). Some items are reverse scored. Items are summed to yield a total score, with higher scores indicating higher levels of parental stress.

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

• Change in Perceived Stress Scale

  The Perceived Stress Scale is a 14-item self-report measure of how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded individuals find their life circumstances. All items are rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 ("Never") to 4 ("very often"). Some items are reverse scored. Responses are summed to yield a total score (range 0-56), with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress.

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

• The Child Adjustment & Parent Efficacy Scale, Total Intensity subscale

  The Child Adjustment \& Parent Efficacy Scale, Total Intensity subscale is a 27-item measure of child behavior and emotional problems. Item responses are rated on a 4-point scale, ranging from 0 ("Not true of my child at all") to 3 ("True of my child very much"/"Most of the time"). Twenty-four items are summed to yield a Behavior Problems score (range 0-72), and three items are summed to yield an Emotional Problems score (range 0-9). Behavioral and Emotional Problems scores can be summed for a Total Intensity score (range 0-81). Higher scores indicate a higher level of problems.

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

• The Child Adjustment & Parent Efficacy Scale, Parenting Efficacy subscale

  The Child Adjustment \& Parent Efficacy Scale, Parenting Efficacy subscale is a 19-item measure of parental self-efficacy. Item responses are rated on a 10-point scale, with responses ranging from 1 ("Certain I can't do it") to 10 ("Certain I can do it"). Items are summed to yield a total efficacy score, with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

• Change in Parenting Sense of Competence Scale

  The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale is a 17-item questionnaire that measures overall parenting satisfaction and competence. Items are measured on a 6-point scale, with responses ranging from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 6 ("Strongly agree"). Some items are reverse scored. Items are summed to yield two subscales: parental satisfaction and parental self-efficacy. Higher scores indicate higher levels of parental satisfaction and parental self-efficacy.

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in Parenting Behaviors and Dimensions Questionnaire

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

• Change in child behavior

  Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (follow-up)

• Change in child self-regulation

  Baseline and 3 months

• Number of children experiencing placement change due to child behavior problems.

  12 months

Study Arms (2)

Chicago Parent Program for Foster Care

EXPERIMENTAL

The Chicago Parent Program for Foster Care (CPP-FC) is a caregiver-directed prevention program to strengthen parenting skills and confidence in foster and kinship caregivers and prevent or reduce behavior problems in children 2-8 years old. CPP-FC was designed to specifically meet the unique needs of children ages 2-8 who are placed with foster and kinship caregivers. Participants assigned to CPP-FC will receive CPP-FC and the services typically offered from the county, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Comprehensive Health Evaluations for Cincinnati's Kids (CHECK) clinic, and for licensed caregivers, their licensing agency.

Behavioral: Chicago Parent Program for Foster Care

Usual Care

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Usual Care control will receive standard care offered from the county, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Comprehensive Health Evaluations for Cincinnati's Kids (CHECK) clinic, and for licensed caregivers, their licensing agency.

Other: Usual Care

Interventions

Chicago Parent Program for Foster Care BEHAVIORAL

CPP-FC consists of 12 two-hour sessions delivered virtually by two trained group leaders over 16 weeks (11 concurrent weeks, 1 one-month booster) in a group-based format. Foster and kinship caregivers of young children are systematically taught parenting skills through group discussions, videotaped vignettes, structured role play and weekly homework assignments.

Also known as: CPP-FC, Caregivers on Point

Chicago Parent Program for Foster Care

Usual Care OTHER

The Usual Care control will receive services from the county, CHECK clinic, and for licensed caregivers, their licensing agency per usual care. Caregivers receive training and support from their county and/or private licensing agency, children are referred to community services by the caseworker when behaviors emerge, and support from behavioral health specialists is available when caregivers request them.

Usual Care

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 2 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Must be a licensed foster caregiver or kinship caregiver to a foster child between the ages of 2 and less than 9 years of age
• Must be a licensed foster caregiver or kinship caregiver to a foster child in Ohio and in the custody of Hamilton County Job and Family Services, Butler County Children Services, or Montgomery County Children Services
• Must be in good standing with the foster care agency
• Must be English-speaking

You may not qualify if:

• Not having a foster child between the ages of 2 and less than 9 years
• The foster child not being in the custody of Ohio counties: Hamilton County Job and Family Services, Butler County Children Services, or Montgomery County Children Services
• The foster child was placed in the home more than 45 days prior to enrollment
• The foster child being moved out of the placement prior to the start of the intervention
• The foster child having been previously enrolled with another caregiver
• The caregiver having been previously enrolled with another child
• The caregiver unable to commit to completing all study activities
• The foster child is not enrolled in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati: lead
• Johns Hopkins University: collaborator
• Ohio State University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (9)

• Berry, J. O., & Jones, W. H. (1995). The parental stress scale: Initial psychometric evidence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 12, 463-472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0265407595123009

  BACKGROUND

• Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.

  PMID: 6668417 BACKGROUND

• Gibaud-Wallston J, Wandersman LP. Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.; 1978. Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-

  BACKGROUND

• Reid CA, Roberts LD, Roberts CM, Piek JP. Towards a model of contemporary parenting: the parenting behaviours and dimensions questionnaire. PLoS One. 2015 Jun 4;10(6):e0114179. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114179. eCollection 2015.

  PMID: 26043107 BACKGROUND

• Goodman R. Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001 Nov;40(11):1337-45. doi: 10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015.

  PMID: 11699809 BACKGROUND

• Research and Training DPICS-IV Manual (2013). PCIT. Accessed October 5, 2021. http://www.pcit.org/store/p19/Research_and_Training_DPICS-IV_Manual_%282013%29.html

  BACKGROUND

• Taichman DB, Sahni P, Pinborg A, Peiperl L, Laine C, James A, Hong ST, Haileamlak A, Gollogly L, Godlee F, Frizelle FA, Florenzano F, Drazen JM, Bauchner H, Baethge C, Backus J. Data Sharing Statements for Clinical Trials: A Requirement of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Ann Intern Med. 2017 Jul 4;167(1):63-65. doi: 10.7326/M17-1028. Epub 2017 Jun 6. No abstract available.

  PMID: 28586790 BACKGROUND

• Alina Morawska, Matthew R Sanders, Divna Haslam, Ania Filus & Renee Fletcher (2014) Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale: Development and Initial Validation of a Parent Report Measure, Australian Psychologist, 49:4, 241-252, DOI: 10.1111/ap.12057

  BACKGROUND

• Beal SJ, Zion C, Mara CA, Patel MA, Bettencourt AF, Breitenstein SM, Vaughn LM, Greiner MV, Ammerman RT. Caregivers on point: a randomized treatment-control prevention trial for foster and kinship caregivers to reduce behavior challenges among children in foster care. Trials. 2024 Oct 10;25(1):670. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08524-9.

  PMID: 39390601 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Child Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Sarah Beal, PhD

  Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Katie Fox, BS

CONTACT

513.803.1506; Katie.Fox@cchmc.org

Cindy Zion, BS

CONTACT

513.636.3931; Cynthia.Zion@cchmc.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators, Statistician, and the Clinical Research Coordinator conducting the caregiver-youth DPICS observation recording and coding will be blinded to study condition.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Parallel, two-arm, randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 27, 2023
• First Posted: December 14, 2023
• Study Start: February 2, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 7, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2027
• Last Updated: March 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: These will be made available three months after publication of the primary article and ending five years after publication.
• Access Criteria: Those requesting data will be required to submit a proposal to the PI. This will be reviewed by the investigative team for methodological soundness and scientific merit. Proposals approved by the PI will be shared with the legal department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and prosecuting attorneys and directors of children's services at Hamilton, Butler, and Montgomery counties for approval. Once approved by all parties, a data use agreement will be established with the outside investigator before data is shared. This plan is consistent with guidelines developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (Taichman,D S, et. al, 2017) and established memoranda of understanding between Cincinnati Children's and children's services agencies for research involving children in foster and kinship care.

Locations

US (1)