Group training to help foster caregivers prevent behavior problems in preschool children
Prevention of behavior problems among preschool children in foster care through group-based foster caregiver training at the time of placement
A short, group-based parenting program offered to foster caregivers when young children enter care aims to reduce behavior problems and lower caregiver stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170562 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, my foster child (ages 2–5) and I would attend an adapted 12-session Chicago Parent Program delivered in small groups timed with routine health visits, plus a one-month booster. The team will pilot the adapted program with a few groups and then run a larger clinical trial comparing outcomes for families who receive the program versus usual support. The sessions include discussion, role-play, and extra content about trauma and maltreatment that is common in foster care. I would complete brief questionnaires, possible observations, and follow-up visits so the researchers can track child behavior, caregiver confidence, and placement stability over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are foster caregivers and their children aged about 2–5 years who have been recently placed into foster care.
Not a fit: Children outside the 2–5 age range, families not in foster care, or caregivers unable to attend group sessions are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce behavior problems in young foster children, lower caregiver stress, and help keep placements stable.
How similar studies have performed: The Chicago Parent Program has previously shown lasting improvements in parenting and child behavior, but using a version adapted specifically for newly placed foster families is a new application.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beal, Sarah — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Beal, Sarah
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 below.