Development of an Intervention for Foster Parents of Young Foster Children with Externalizing Behavior: Theoretical Basis and Program Description

Abstract

Foster parents are often faced with serious externalizing behaviors of their foster child. These behavioral problems may induce family stress and are related to less effective parenting and often increase. Foster children with behavioral problems are also more at risk of placement breakdown. An intervention to support foster parents of young foster children with externalizing behaviors is necessary to improve the effectiveness of foster placements. Based on research on effective parenting interventions and special needs of foster children, a treatment protocol was developed. This paper describes theoretical foundations for the content and form of the intervention and gives an overview of the modular treatment protocol. Preliminary outcomes of this intervention as well as challenges and future developments and research activities are discussed.

Reducing Sibling Conflict in Maltreated Children Placed in Foster Homes

“…Enrollment and attendance rates in this pilot study are promising; our enrollment rate for eligible families (22/48) in this hard-to-reach population compares positively with rates found in recent trials in foster care (Chamberlain, Price, Leve, Laurent, Landsverk, & Reid, 2008; Vanschoonlandt, Vanderfaeillie, Van Holen, & De Maeyer, 2012). Attendance rate across intervention components (73%) demonstrated program engagement for this hard-to-reach population.…”

Inhibited attachment behaviour and disinhibited social engagement behaviour as relevant concepts in referred home reared children

“…Positive associations have been found between parenting stress, child externalizing as well as child internalizing problem behaviour (Johnston & Mash ; Ashford et al ; Rodriguez ). Despite the fact that parenting stress is an indicator rather than a cause of parenting problems, it has been identified as an important target for intervention in its own right in relation to child behavioural problems and prevention of child maltreatment (Rodriguez & Richardson ; Ashford et al ; Neece & Baker ; Vanschoonlandt et al ). It is still unknown whether IAB and DSEB are associated with parenting stress in young children, referred with emotional and behavioural problems.…”

Impact of the parenting style of foster parents on the behaviour problems of foster children

“…; Vanschoonlandt et al . ), they can trigger an escalation of mutually coercive behaviour between foster parents and child.…”

“…Thus, what emerges is an escalating chain of mutually coercive interactions between foster parents and foster child (Vanschoonlandt et al . ). Research has also found that internalizing behaviour on the part of the child produces greater insecurity among foster parents, leading them to resort to harsher and less consistent punishments (Vanderfaeillie et al .…”

“…When analysed longitudinally these effects appear to be bidirectional, such that an aggressive child elicits more hostile parenting and hostile parenting results in a more aggressive child (Yaghoubzadeh et al 2010). Thus, what emerges is an escalating chain of mutually coercive interactions between foster parents and foster child (Vanschoonlandt et al 2012). Research has also found that internalizing behaviour on the part of the child produces greater insecurity among foster parents, leading them to resort to harsher and less consistent punishments (Vanderfaeillie et al 2013).…”