Intensive Resource Home Pilot (IRH)

1. Intensive Resource Home Pilot(IRH) RCW 74.13.800 mandates Children’s Administration (CA) Pilot IRH in two locations Yakima and Clark counties are the pilot locations RCW further mandates CA use a model which is evidence based or a promising practice Consulting with UW Evidence Based Institute CA is using Keeping Foster Parents Trained and Supported (KEEP) as the pilot model KEEP was develop by Oregon Social and Learning Center. Stakeholders meetings and focus groups held with foster parents and other professionals to help shape the model

2. KEEP Model DesignPatricia Chamberlain, JP Davis, Peter Sprengelmeyer 16 Skills training groups One group per week Groups last 60-90 minutes Groups facilitated by a lead and co-lead Groups consist of 6-10 foster parents Each group teaches a new skill, provides feedback and support Groups are designed to be informative and fun Lead or Co-lead calls foster parent once a week (Parent Report) and gathers information on the youths behavior and foster parents stress level. Home practice every week Groups are videotaped Missed sessions get home visit Snack and drink served Child care provided if needed

3. KEEP Model Design Some of the group topics; Parents as Teachers – Importance of Cooperation Parents as Teachers – Teaching New Behaviors Using Charts and Incentives Setting Limits Discipline Strategies Balancing Encouragement and Limit Setting Avoiding Power Struggles Pre-Teaching Super Tough Behaviors Promoting School Success Promoting Positive Peer Relations Stress and Managing it

4. Teaching Strategies Used in Groups Discussion and interaction to foster learning and group support Teaching of skills by facilitator Teaching use of incentive systems and other ways of increasing positive parent-child interactions such as star charts Videotaped examples of challenging situations Skill practice in role plays with feedback from facilitator and other group members Home practice assignments

5. The Researchfor KEEP • Many children in foster care have significant behavior & emotional problems • In San Diego Keep- this was 40% of 5-12 year olds getting a new placement • That puts them at risk for placement disruption • Every new behavior over 6 increases placement disruption by 17% • Also puts foster parents at risk for dropping out from providing foster care • KEEP model was used in hope of helping with these issues

6. Intervention goals • To increase the parenting skills of foster and kinship parents • To decrease the number of placement disruptions • To improve child outcomes • To increase the number of positive placement changes (e.g. reunification, adoption)

7. Project KEEP aims to accomplish these goals by-- • Promoting the idea that foster parents can serve as key agents of change for children. • Strengthening foster parent’s confidence and skills so they can change their child’s behaviors. • Helping foster parents use effective parent management strategies and provide them with support to do so • Increasing short and long term positive child outcomes in multiple domains and settings – home, school, with peers.

8. Who participated in San Diego KEEP ? • 700 sets of foster children/parents • Hispanic 36% • Caucasian 28% • African American 27% • Asian 3% • Native American 1%

9. Outcomes • Outcomes were measured with a control group (not receiving KEEP) and a group receiving KEEP intervention • Compared to the control group, KEEP was more effective at; Decreasing problem behaviors Decreasing disruption Increasing positive exits/placements

10. Child Behavior Outcomes Control group compared to KEEP group