Evaluation of Intervention for Siblings in Foster Care

描述（由申请人提供）：全国估计表明，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%的青少年早期寄养青少年与一个或多个兄弟姐妹分开。这些兄弟姐妹之间的关系对于为他们提供联系感和情感连续性至关重要，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，加强寄养儿童与家庭联系的努力主要集中在成年人身上（如亲生父母、祖父母）。关于寄养家庭中兄弟姐妹关系的研究有限。本研究的中心目的是评估兄弟姐妹加父母管理培训（SPMT）干预与仅父母管理培训（PMT）干预对寄养青少年兄弟姐妹关系质量、心理健康、学业成功和生活质量的影响。在俄勒冈州国土安全部寄养项目的合作下，240对兄弟姐妹和他们的养父母将被纳入六个队列。兄弟姐妹可以住在一起，也可以分开住。二人组将由(1)一个11-15岁的目标青少年和(2)一个7-15岁且在目标青少年4岁以内的弟弟妹妹组成。兄弟姐妹将根据住在一起或分开来匹配；配对的二人组将被随机分配到SPMT组或PMT组，所有参加研究的养父母都接受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8个技能学习/实践认知行为课程，以及4个由兄弟姐妹和他们的干预教练策划的社区活动。对于养父母来说，有一个4期的PMT课程，强调技能的学习和与他们的寄养孩子的实践。养父母可应要求提供额外的课程。寄养父母还可以通过每周的员工报到电话和项目网站访问PMT材料和策略，并对其进行故障排除。主要评估将在基线、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）进行。对青少年和养父母进行简短的双月电话访谈，将收集服务使用数据和结果结构的全球评级，用于增长模型分析。层次线性模型（HLM）和多元回归分析将用于检验(1)SPMT兄弟姐妹在关键结果上比PMT兄弟姐妹改善更多的预测，以及(2)干预效果是否因兄弟姐妹安置（一起或分开）和参与者特征（如种族，性别和残疾）而变化。

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.