Evaluation of Intervention for Siblings in Foster Care

描述（由申请人提供）：国家估计表明，大约70%的寄养儿童有一个或多个兄弟姐妹也在照顾。确切的百分比因州而异，但一些数据来源表明，大约50%的早期青少年寄养青年与他们的一个或多个兄弟姐妹分开。这些兄弟姐妹之间的关系可能是至关重要的，为他们提供了一种联系感和情感的连续性，因为他们远离了许多熟悉的东西（例如他们的家，父母和朋友）。从历史上看，加强寄养儿童与其家庭联系的努力主要集中在成年人身上（例如，父母，祖父母）。对寄养家庭中兄弟姐妹关系的研究有限。拟议的研究的主要目的是评估影响的兄弟姐妹加家长管理培训（SPMT）干预相比，家长管理培训（PMT）的兄弟姐妹关系质量，心理健康，学业成功，生活质量的关键结构的青年寄养。与俄勒冈州国土安全部寄养计划合作进行，240对兄弟姐妹和他们的养父母将被分为六个队列。西雅特人可以住在一起，也可以分开居住。二人组将包括：（1）11-15岁的受照料目标青少年，以及（2）7-15岁且在目标青少年4岁以内的受照料弟弟妹妹。兄弟姐妹配对将被匹配为共同生活或分开生活;匹配的配对将被随机分配到SPMT或仅PMT组，所有研究入组的养父母都接受PMT干预成分。SPMT干预包括兄弟姐妹成分以及养父母PMT。兄弟姐妹干预部分包括八个认知行为的技能学习/实践会议，和四个社群活动计划的兄弟姐妹与他们的干预教练。对于寄养父母，有一个4节PMT课程，强调技能学习和实践与他们的研究登记寄养儿童。如有要求，还可向养父母提供额外的课程。寄养父母也将能够通过每周的员工签到电话和项目网站访问和解决PMT材料和策略。将在基线、干预终止（6个月）、随访1（干预后6个月）和随访2（干预后12个月）时进行主波评估。简短的，每两个月一次的电话采访的青年和养父母将收集服务利用率数据和全球评级的结果结构中使用的增长模型分析。分层线性模型（HLM）和多元回归分析将用于检验（1）SPMT兄弟姐妹在关键结局方面的改善程度高于PMT兄弟姐妹的预测，以及（2）干预疗效是否因兄弟姐妹的安置（在一起vs.分开）和参与者特征（如种族、性别和残疾）而异。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): National estimates indicate that roughly 70% of children in foster care have one or more siblings also in care. Exact percentages vary by state, but several data sources suggest that about 50% of early adolescent foster youth are placed apart from one or more of their siblings. Relationships between these siblings may be critical in providing them a sense of connection and emotional continuity as they are removed from much that is familiar (e.g. their home, parents, and friends). Historically, efforts to strengthen ties of foster children with their families have focused on adults (e.g., biological parents, grandparents). Limited research exists on the relationships of siblings in foster care. The central aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the impact of the Sibling plus Parent Management Training (SPMT) intervention as compared to Parent Management Training only (PMT) on key constructs of sibling relationship quality, mental health, academic success, and quality of life for youth in foster care. Conducted in partnership with the Oregon DHS Foster Care program, 240 sibling dyads and their foster parents will be enrolled in six cohorts. Siblings may live together or in separate placements. Dyads will consist of (1) a target youth in care that is 11-15 years of age, and (2) a younger sibling in care who is 7-15 years of age and within 4 years of age of the target youth. Sibling dyads will be matched as living together or living apart; the matched dyads will be randomly assigned to either the SPMT or PMT-only group, with all study-enrolled foster parents receiving PMT intervention components. The SPMT intervention includes a sibling component as well as foster parent PMT. The sibling intervention component includes eight cognitive behavioral sessions of skills learning/practice, and four community activities planned by siblings with their interventionist coaches. For foster parents, there is a 4-session PMT curriculum emphasizing skills learning and practice with their study-enrolled foster child. Additional sessions are available to foster parents on request. Foster parents will also be able to access and troubleshoot PMT materials and strategies via weekly staff check-in calls, and the project website. Major wave assessments will be conducted at baseline, intervention termination (6 months), follow-along1 (6-month post-intervention) and follow-along2 (12-month post-intervention). Brief, bi-monthly phone interviews for youth and foster parents will collect service utilization data and global ratings of outcome constructs for use in growth-modeling analyses. Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM) and multiple regression analyses will be used to test (1) the prediction that SPMT siblings will improve more than PMT siblings on key outcomes, and (2) whether intervention efficacy varies by sibling placement (together vs. apart) and participant characteristics such as race, gender, and disability.