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Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Preschool Children: Impact on Children's Behavior, Neuroendocrine Activity, and Foster Parent Functioning

NCJ Number
185708
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 39 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 1356-1364
Author(s)
Philip A. Fisher; Megan R. Gunnar; Patricia Chamberlain; John B. Reid
Date Published
November 2000
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article describes the results of a pilot study that evaluated the effectiveness of the Early Intervention Foster Care program in the period immediately following a child's placement in a new foster home.
Abstract
Data were collected from an Early Intervention Foster Care (EIFC) group, a regular foster care group, and a community comparison group - each with 10 participants - via questionnaires for children and their caretakers and salivary cortisol sampling. EIFC foster parents adopted and maintained positive parenting strategies. EIFC children's behavioral adjustment improved, and changes occurred in several salivary cortisol measures. Moreover, regular foster care children exhibited decrements in functioning in several areas over the same time period. The article discusses study results with regard to how such research fits into a larger program of prevention research for high-risk preschool children. The larger program should include a randomized clinical trial involving a larger sample. Observed changes similar to those obtained in this smaller study might justify a larger-scale effectiveness trial, optimally demonstrating that the intervention's impact is not lost in the dissemination to community settings. Table, figures, references

Grant Number(s)
R01 DA12231
R01 MH59780
R03 MH56932
R501 MH37911
5P30 MH46690
R01 HD19739
Sponsoring Agency
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Address

National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213, Bethesda, MD 20892-9561, United States

National Institute of Mental Health
Address

6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20852, United States

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Address

Bldg 31, Room 2A32, MSC 2425, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-2425, United States

Publication Format
Article
Publication Type
Report (Study/Research)
Language
English
Country
United States of America