An Ecodevelopmental Framework for Engaging Diverse Youth in Foster Care and Their Families Into Technology-Based Family Intervention Research Trials

Abstract

Family-based interventions delivered via telehealth are a promising mode for overcoming barriers to behavioral health treatment among youth in foster care and their families. There is a dearth of research, however, regarding effectiveness of these interventions for youth in foster care, who commonly exhibit complex behavioral health treatment needs. Clinical research in this area directly relates to equity in service access and quality for these youth and families, with numerous barriers and enabling factors to consider in order to improve engagement in clinical trials and bolster the evidence base. We present a framework to better understand the multi-systemic factors impacting youth and family engagement in clinical research on family-based telehealth interventions, drawing on relevant theory, including the bioecological model and ecodevelopmental theory. We also draw on our experiences conducting technology-based clinical research through the Family Telehealth Project, an evaluation of a brief family-based affect management intervention designed specifically for youth in foster care and their families, as a case example. Recommendations for promoting engagement in clinical research on family-based telehealth interventions with diverse youth in foster care and their families are provided.

Implementation Considerations for Family-Based Telehealth Interventions for Youth in Foster Care: Focus Group Study With Child Welfare System Professionals

“…This study analyzes focus group data to guide the iterative adaptation of an empirically supported, in-person, family-based affect management intervention [17] to serve foster youth and their families via telehealth as part of phase 1 of the Family Telehealth Project. The overall study aims to improve behavioral health outcomes and reduce housing instability among adolescent foster youth (aged 12-18 y) placed out of county, for whom in-person family-based interventions with caregivers of origin are typically not feasible [18]. Phase 2 is an ongoing clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention.…”