Caregiver-relevant perspectives from a multi-stakeholder collaborative advisory board on adapting a child mental health intervention to be delivered in child-welfare settings

ABSTRACT

Adapting evidence-based mental health interventions (EBI) to be provided in child welfare (CW) settings by CW workers could reduce barriers to families receiving mental health care. In order to promote implementation success, the adaptation of EBIs should include the perspectives of those who deliver and those who receive the EBI. The following study uses qualitative methods to elicit and analyze caregiver-relevant perspectives and adaption recommendations from CW stakeholders about the 4Rs and 2Ss Strengthening Families Program, an EBI for youth disruptive behavior disorders, to be implemented in CW settings. Recommendations included adjusting curriculum to better fit the culture of recipients and conveying the importance of openness and respect to providers.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health services
• caregiver involvement
• child welfare
• implementation
• evidence-based interventions
• adaptation

Disclosure statement

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; R21MH102544 and T32 MH019960). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or the National Institutes of Health.

Notes on contributors

Cole Hooley

Cole Hooley, PhD, LCSW: Dr. Hooley is an Assistant Professor in Brigham Young University’s School of Social Work. His research focuses on scaling-up mental health services and implementation science.

Andrew M. Winters

Andrew M. Winters, PhD, LISW-S: Dr. Winters is an Assistant Professor at The University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work. Dr. Winters research focuses on the relative effectiveness of different types of services provided through behavioral health, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems to children and adolescents involved in these systems. His overarching question is what works, under which circumstances.

Caterina Pisciotta

Caterina Pisciotta, MSW: Ms. Pisciotta is a doctoral student in the Social Welfare program at the City University of New York. She has both direct practice and research/evaluation experience in the areas of child welfare and juvenile justice.

Geetha Gopalan

Geetha Gopalan, PhD, LCSW: Dr. Gopalan is an Associate Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York. Her research focuses on (1) identifying needs and challenges of families involved in child welfare and child mental health services which could impact service utilization and effectiveness, (2) developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions designed to promote child mental health and family functioning, and (3) investigating interventions and services integrating peer support.