Relationship, Family (Foster), Substance Use Prevention
Conditions
Keywords
Foster Families
Brief summary
This study evaluates the efficacy of a self-directed parenting program called Connecting in reducing risk of substance use and other risky behaviors in young foster teens (ages 11-15). Half of the participants will receive services as usual from the foster system, while half will participate in the Connecting program. Connecting is a 10-week, self-directed parenting workbook with two digital video discs (DVDs). Families receive weekly telephone support as they complete the program.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALConnecting
Connecting was adapted for use within the child welfare system from the Staying Connected With Your Teen program that has been demonstrated to prevent substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, and violence during adolescence.
Sponsors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
University of Washington
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Interviewers should be blind to condition.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
11 Years to 15 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Foster youth ages 11-15 years * In current placement 60+ days * In relative/suitable adult care, in licensed relative/suitable adult care, in licensed foster care, in dependency guardianship * Caregiver and teen speak English well enough to use the program manual and respond to survey questions
Exclusion criteria
* The teen has regularly used drugs or alcohol in the last 30 days * The teen has been involved in the criminal justice system * The placement is not viewed as stable * The caregiver is not committed to a long-term placement * The teen will not likely be in the placement for at least 6 months * Group home placements and behavioral rehabilitative services placements
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Delay in drug use initiation | 2 year follow up | Monitoring the Future (Johnston et al., 2002). Communities that Care Youth Survey (CTC) (Hawkins & Catalano, 2004). |
| Delay in initiation of sexual activity | 2 year follow up | National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (Center for Human Research, 2003). Sexual Risk and Behavior Attitudes and Self Efficacy Scale (Basen Enquist et al., 1996). Communities that Care Youth Survey (Hawkins & Catalano, 2004). |
| Violent delinquent behavior frequency | 2 year follow up | Seattle Social Development Project (Hawkins et al., 1999). |
| Non-violent delinquent behavior frequency | 2 year follow up | Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP) (Hawkins et al., 1999). Raising Healthy Children (Catalano et al., 2005). |
| Substance use frequency | 2 year follow up | Monitoring the Future (Johnston et al., 2002). Communities that Care Youth Survey (Hawkins & Catalano, 2004). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Residential placement stability | 2 year follow up | Child Welfare Administrative Data |
| Growth in caregiver/youth bonding | 1 and 2 year follow up | Communities that Care Youth Survey (Hawkins & Catalano, 2004). Armsden & Greenberg (1987). |
| Youth attitudes about HIV related risks | 1 and 2 year follow up | Sexual Risk and Behavior Attitudes and Self Efficacy Scale (Basen Enquist et al.,1996) |
| Youth attitudes favorable toward substance use | 1 and 2 year follow up | Communities that Care Youth Survey (Hawkins & Catalano, 2004) |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Children's coping | 1 and 2 year follow up | University of Washington Parenting Clinic (2001) |
| Refusal skills (youth) | 1 and 2 year follow up | Seattle Social Development Project (1999) |
| Problem solving skills (youth) | 1 and 2 year follow up | Raising Healthy Children (Catalano et al., 2005) |
| Change in family guidelines | 1 and 2 year follow up | Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (1999) |
| Rewards and recognition in the family scale | 1 and 2 year follow up | Raising Healthy Children (Catalano et al., 2005) |
| Change in caregiver monitoring | 1 and 2 year follow up | Parental Monitoring; Kerr and Stattin (2000). Raising Healthy Children monitoring scale (Catalano et al., 2005). |
| Change in inconsistent discipline and consequences | 1 and 2 year follow up | Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (Shelton et al., 1999) |
| Opportunities for prosocial involvement in the family | 1 and 2 year follow up | Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (Shelton et al., 1999) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed