Learning Problems
Conditions
Keywords
academic performance, cognitive development, children in care, prevention of school failure
Brief summary
A Randomized controlled study of two different educational support interventions developed for children in foster care (age 6-13).
Detailed description
A Randomized controlled study of two different educational support interventions developed for children in foster care (age 6-13). One intervention is school-based and involves a team of professionals at the child's school, and the other is a home-based tutoring intervention provided by the foster parents. The participants in the study are assigned to three groups (the two intervention groups and control group). Based on power calculation we aim to recruit approximately 180-200 foster children, their foster parents and public schools to participate in the study.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSchool intervention
A school-based intervention that builds on the promising Swedish programme SkolFam, but is adapted to a Danish school context. The two main components of the programme are a) comprehensive assessment of the child, involving testing of the child's cognitive and academic abilities and difficulties as well as an evaluation of the child's behaviour, school-related social relations and well-being, and b) a systematic and individually targeted intervention plan, made in collaboration between a psychologist, the teachers, and a special educational teacher at the school (e.g., the reading counsellor).
BEHAVIORALParents as Tutors
A home-based intervention, comprising a structured tutoring programme that allows foster parents to systematically support the foster child's school performance. Foster parents will attend an introductory tutor training seminar at which they will be introduced to relevant theory on learning and counselled on tutoring practice. The intervention itself is designed to provide approximately three hours per week of individual home-based tutoring for a period of 40 weeks.
Sponsors
Ministry of Social Affairs
VIVE - The Danish Center for Social Science Research
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* age 6-13 * fostercare placement * placement in a participating municipality
Exclusion criteria
* persuasive developmental disorders * special education students
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Academic performance | 17 months after intervention start | Reading test and mathematical test |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive functions | 17 months after intervention start | Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV and Contingency Naming Test |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| well-being | 17 months after intervention start | The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire |
Countries
Denmark
Contacts
Primary ContactMisja Eiberg
Backup ContactHelle Hansen
Outcome results
None listed