Improving mental health programs for parents and children in foster care
Official title: Refining and Pilot Testing a Decision Support Intervention to Facilitate Adoption of Evidence-Based Programs to Improve Parent and Child Mental Health
Funded at Chestnut Health Systems, INC. · NIH-10914994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about finding better ways to help parents and kids in foster care get the mental health support they need, by creating a helpful tool for decision-makers to use when putting these programs into action.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chestnut Health Systems, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $180,422 |
| NIH project number | 5K01MH128761-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914994 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are in foster care or have been adopted, along with their parents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in the foster care system or who do not have a need for mental health services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the adoption of evidence-based programs designed to improve mental health outcomes for parents and children involved in the foster care system. It aims to develop and test a decision support tool that helps decision-makers effectively implement these programs. By leveraging federal policies aimed at preventing child maltreatment, the project seeks to ensure that effective mental health services are utilized in real-world settings. The approach includes collaboration with decision-makers across multiple states to refine and pilot the implementation strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better mental health support for children and parents in foster care, ultimately reducing instances of maltreatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in implementing evidence-based programs in child welfare, indicating that this approach has the potential for meaningful impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Chestnut Health Systems, INC.
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cruden, Gracelyn — Chestnut Health Systems, INC.
- Study coordinator: Cruden, Gracelyn
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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.