Enhancing Foster Care Relationships Through Attachment-Based Intervention: Protocol of SAFE FAMILY STUDY (SAFE FAMILIES)

Shankland Rebecca

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Foster Care; Parenting Sensitivity

Treatments: Behavioral: Traitement as usual (TAU); Behavioral: Circle of security Parenting (COS-P)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06701877

SAFE FAMILIES (ULL2/ONPE)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: Children in out-of-home care constitute a vulnerable population often experiencing mental health challenges related to early adversity and placement disruptions. The Circle of Security Parenting® (COS-P) program is an attachment-based intervention designed to enhance carer sensitivity and reflective functioning, ultimately improving the quality of carer-child relationships.

Methods This study protocol follows a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of the COS-P program for foster carers in France. A total of 70 foster carers will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (receiving COS-P in addition to Treatment as Usual) or the waitlist control group (receiving Treatment as Usual only). Quantitative measures, including the Caregiving Composite Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index, and the Marschak Interaction Method, will be administered at baseline and at follow-up). Qualitative data will be collected through focus groups with foster carers and COS-P facilitators, and through self-confrontation interviews with a subset of foster carers.

Discussion: This study is the first to evaluate COS-P for foster carers in France. Findings will provide valuable insights into the program's effectiveness in improving carer-child relationships and foster carer well-being, ultimately contributing to better outcomes for children in out-of-home care. The study will also explore potential moderators of treatment outcome and shed light on the subjective experiences of participants.

Enrollment: 70 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Foster carers:

1. Signed informed consent form.
2. Commitment to attend all eight sessions of the COS-P program.
3. Employed by CPS Haute-Loire or by one of the two participating private agencies.

Foster children:

1. Placed with a foster carer participating in the study.
2. Aged from 1 to 6 years.
3. In permanent placement (5 or more days per week with the foster carer).
4. Consent obtained from all individuals holding parental responsibility.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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70 participants in 2 patient groups

COSP Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group will participate in the COS-P program in addition to TAU. Foster carers will be assigned to groups of 8 to 10 participants and will attend sessions in dedicated training facilities.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Circle of security Parenting (COS-P)

Behavioral: Traitement as usual (TAU)

Waitlist control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Waitlist control groupe will continue to receive Treatment as Usual (TAU), which consists of Psycho-Educational Support (PSE) provided by Child Protection Services. PSE typically involves home visits, educational and psychological support for foster carers and/or children in placement, and efforts to support and monitor contact between children and their birth families. The control group will be placed on a waiting list to receive the COS-P program as part of continuing education at a later date.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Traitement as usual (TAU)