Predict the Best Level of Care Placement for Each Child's Behavioral Health Needs - Effectiveness Study

Outcome Referrals, Inc.

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Mental Health Wellness; Adolescent Well-Being

Treatments: Other: Clinical team access to Placement Success Predictor (PSP) results

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Industry; Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06834763

2R44MH125486-02A1-Aim 2B

2R44MH125486-02A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a new clinical decision support tool, Placement Success Predictor (PSP), in a naturalistic setting. PSP will provide placement-specific predictions about the likelihood of a youth having a good outcome in each placement type at a behavioral health center using machine learning algorithms.

The primary hypothesis is that clients in at least one placement within one standard deviation of the placement with the highest predicted likelihood of success will have better outcomes than the clients who were not.

The secondary hypothesis is that clients' level of improvement over time will be positively correlated with the number of days they are in at least one placement within one standard deviation of the placement with the highest predicted likelihood of success.

Full description

In 2017, a total of 669,799 children were confirmed victims of maltreatment in the United States; of the 442,733 children in foster care, 34% have been in more than one placement and 11% are in a group home or institution. Stakes are extremely high for making the best out-of-home placement choice per child because some placement types and multiple placements are associated with poor outcomes. In the past few years, legislation has been created to guide placement decisions for children. Federal law 42 U.S. Code 675 requires that children in the care of the state are placed "in a safe setting that is the least restrictive (most family like)." In addition, the Family First Prevention Services Act signed into law by the U.S. Congress in 2018 includes measures to reduce the number of children in long-term residential settings. This effectiveness study is to assess and improve the usage of PSP in a behavioral health setting.

Sample. Clients at Children's Hope Alliance (CHA) who completed the TOP, CHA's standard behavioral health assessment. The target recruitment goal is 700 clients.

Methods. PSP results will be available for all clients with recent behavioral health assessment data.

Enrollment: 700 estimated patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Completed TOP CS assessment

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

700 participants in 2 patient groups

In PSP-Recommended Placement

Description:

Clients in placement with PSP results within one standard deviation of the highest predicted likelihood of success for that client at follow up

Treatment:

Other: Clinical team access to Placement Success Predictor (PSP) results

Not In PSP-Recommended Placement

Description:

Clients not in placement with PSP result within one standard deviation of the highest predicted likelihood of success for that client at follow up

Treatment:

Other: Clinical team access to Placement Success Predictor (PSP) results