Family Navigator Plus for Foster Parents to Boost Youth Mental Health Access
Official title: Building Capacity for Youth Mental Wellness: Feasibility and Acceptability for a Mental Health Family Navigator Model for Foster Parents.
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11374565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot program helps foster parents recognize kids’ mental health needs and connect them with care for ages 6–17.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $240,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH134941-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are foster children aged 6–17 and their foster parents or guardians who are navigating mental health needs.
✕Less likely to help
Some youth may not experience immediate improvements in symptoms within the study period.
What this research studies
This project tests FN+, a program that trains foster parents to identify mental health needs, work with caseworkers, and support treatment goals while waiting for services. It aims to increase timely access to mental health care for children in foster care who are at high risk for anxiety, depression, and trauma-related issues. The study will measure how feasible and acceptable FN+ is in real-world foster care settings and whether it improves engagement with treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FN+ could shorten delays to care and improve engagement in mental health services for youth in foster care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows family- and navigator-based approaches can improve care engagement in high-need populations, though this exact FN+ model is new for foster care.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Risser, Heather Jill — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Risser, Heather Jill
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.