The Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers: Feasibility and Acceptability for Black and Hispanic Formerly Incarcerated Mothers

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The incarceration of a mother disrupts parent-child attachment relationships, increases the risk for psychopathology and other negative outcomes in children, and disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic families. Interventions that aim to repair attachment disruption and promote positive parent-child relationships following maternal incarceration have the potential to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology and other negative outcomes. While there are a growing number of attachment-based parenting programs for incarcerated mothers, they focus exclusively on infants. Additionally, most corrections- based interventions have not been culturally adapted for ethnically or racially minoritized mothers, who face disparities at every level of the criminal punishment system. Moreover, programs have not been tailored for formerly incarcerated mothers despite significant parenting stress and difficulty accessing resources following release. There is also a need to investigate the acceptability of virtual delivery that would increase scalability. We identify the Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (MISC), a developmentally and culturally transportable video-feedback intervention that addresses the attachment relationship and promotes evidence- based positive parenting behaviors. The proposed project will use a mixed-methods, community-based participatory approach to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MISC for Black and Hispanic formerly incarcerated mothers and identify targets for future adaptation, including an innovative virtual delivery format, following the first 3 steps of the evidence-based ADAPT-ITT model. Aim 1 is to assess the target population’s characteristics and needs using quantitative methods (surveys with 120 Black and Hispanic formerly incarcerated mothers,120 control mothers) and qualitative methods (interviews with 20 formerly incarcerated mothers and focus groups with community advisory board members). We hypothesize that quantitative analyses will reveal greater need for intervention among formerly incarcerated mothers and qualitative analyses will reveal themes of parenting challenges related to incarceration and desire for support. Aim 2 is to use Aim 1 results to evaluate the feasibility of MISC and identify initial adaptation targets by comparing the target population’s parenting experiences and goals to the standard structure, goals, and delivery of MISC. We hypothesize that MISC will be feasible and adaptation targets will be identified. Aim 3 is to evaluate the acceptability of MISC through theater testing with 5 focus groups of formerly incarcerated mothers. We hypothesize that MISC will be acceptable and that we will identify and refine additional adaptation targets. The proposed study is in line with the NIMH’s strategic goal to prevent psychopathology and improve public health in marginalized and underserved communities. Additionally, findings will directly inform future studies to adapt and evaluate MISC for formerly incarcerated mothers, holding the potential to improve wellbeing in these families. Finally, this fellowship will support the applicant’s development as an independent researcher.