Preventing Conduct Disorder Among Children in the Child Welfare System

描述(申请人提供)：儿童福利系统中的儿童有很高的风险出现严重的破坏性行为问题，包括品行障碍。因此，预防或减少早期行为问题对于改善儿童福利系统中弱势儿童群体的长期结果至关重要。我们项目的目的是：(A)确定对于儿童福利系统中的非裔美国人和欧洲裔美国儿童，Path Triple P是否比常规治疗(TAU)产生更好的行为和安全结果，以及(B)评估Path Triple P与TAU相比的成本效益。具体地说，本研究的目的是：(1)在Metro-St.中对140名家长进行纵向随机对照试验。路易儿童福利体系(其孩子在进入研究时由其照顾)，以测试与TAU相比，路径Triple P在改善5至10岁儿童破坏性行为方面的有效性。(2)测试路径Triple P在防止虐待再犯方面的有效性；以及(3)测量和评估与路径Triple P和TAU相关的成本和收益。将使用混合方法设计来检验假设并回答与每个目标相关的研究问题。研究设计为纵向设计，包括两个处理条件和四个数据收集点：前测、后测、随访1(F1，后测6个月)和随访2(F2，F1后12个月)。将使用多种评估方法：(1)向家长发放计算机化标准化工具，(2)对家长进行半结构化访谈，(3)向教师发放纸质标准化工具，(4)将研究数据与多部门州行政数据集联系起来。这项研究的结果将确定Path Triple P是否会导致最佳的儿童行为结果，并防止弱势儿童福利人群中再次发生虐待行为，将确定Path Triple P对谁以及在什么条件下对目标人群的父母最有利，并将有助于将稀缺的联邦资金用于为儿童福利系统中的儿童服务。 与公共健康相关：儿童福利系统为大量受到虐待的儿童提供服务，这些儿童患有或面临发展成严重破坏性行为问题的风险，这些问题可能会带来终身后果，并使社会面临暴力犯罪的风险。有效的家长干预措施可用于预防和治疗这些问题；然而，到目前为止，只是在儿童福利环境中零星地实施和测试。这项研究的结果将为在儿童福利环境中提供心理健康干预的最佳做法和政策提供参考。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Children in the child welfare system are at high risk for serious disruptive behavior problems, including conduct disorder. Therefore, the prevention or reduction of early behavior problems is critical to improving long term outcomes for the vulnerable population of children in the child welfare system. The purpose of our project is to: (a) determine if Pathways Triple P results in better behavioral and safety outcomes than treatment as usual (TAU) for African American and European American children in the child welfare system and (b) evaluate how the cost-effectiveness of Pathways Triple P compares to TAU. Specifically, the aims of this study are to: (1) conduct a longitudinal, randomized control trial with 140 parents in the metro-St. Louis child welfare system (whose children are in their care at the time of study entry) to test the effectiveness of Pathways Triple P at improving child disruptive behavior among children between the ages of 5 and 10 compared to TAU. (2) Test the effectiveness of Pathways Triple P at preventing maltreatment recidivism; and (3) Measure and evaluate the costs and benefits associated with Pathways Triple P and TAU. A mixed method design will be used to test the hypotheses and answer the research questions associated with each aim. The study design is longitudinal with two treatment conditions and four data collection points: pre-test, post-test, follow-up 1 (F1, 6 months after post-test) and follow-up 2 (F2, 12 months after F1). Multiple assessment methods will be used: (1) computerized standardized instruments administered to parents, (2) semi-structured interviews with parents, (3) paper-based standardized instrument administered to teachers and (4) linking study data with a multi-sector state administrative dataset. Findings from this study will determine if Pathways Triple P results in optimal child behavior outcomes and prevents maltreatment recidivism among the vulnerable child welfare population, will identify for whom and under what conditions Pathways Triple P is most beneficial to parents to the target population, and will help target scarce federal dollars to serve children in the child welfare system. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The child welfare system serves large numbers of maltreated children with or who are at risk of developing serious disruptive behavior problems that can carry lifelong consequences, and put society at risk of violent crime. Efficacious parent-mediated interventions are available for preventing and treating these problems; however, to date, have only been implemented and tested sporadically within child welfare settings. Findings from this study will inform best practice and policy related to providing mental health interventions within child welfare settings.