Improving mental health programs for parents and children in foster care

Refining and Pilot Testing a Decision Support Intervention to Facilitate Adoption of Evidence-Based Programs to Improve Parent and Child Mental Health

NIH-funded research Chestnut Health Systems, INC. · NIH-10914994

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 typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChestnut Health Systems, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Bloomington, United States)
Project IDNIH-10914994 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are in foster care or have been adopted, along with their parents.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Bloomington, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.