Search

PURPOSE: Foster youth have high rates of unintended teen pregnancies and other negative sexual health outcomes. Foster and kinship caregivers (FKC) are an untapped resource to reduce risks. We conducted a two-phase pilot study to evaluate feasibility, acceptability and assess preliminary efficacy of a training designed to improve caregiver communication, monitoring and conflict behaviors and improve sexual health outcomes for youth in foster care. Our study included a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) component. METHOD: Phase 1: We recruited 49 FKC and assessed feasibility quantitatively, and acceptability both qualitatively and quantitatively of our intervention (Heart to Heart). Phase 2: We conducted an RCT with 71 participants and evaluated caregiver communication, monitoring, and conflict behaviors as well as the psychological determinants thereof in intervention and control groups at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: Phase 1: Facilitators delivered all intervention content; >90% participants received the entire training. The intervention was highly acceptable (mean score 4.9/5 on two questions). Phase 2: 71 participants were eligible and completed baseline (68 completed at least one follow up survey). We found significant improvements in the intervention group in knowledge, communication expectations, and caregiver-youth conflict behaviors in one or more waves; the control group demonstrated no significant improvements. When groups were compared, we found significant differences in knowledge, communication frequency, and conflict behaviors at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Heart to Heart is feasible, acceptable, and preliminary outcomes data is promising. More research is needed to better establish evidence of efficacy for long-term behavior change in caregivers and youth. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFER: NCT03331016

To explore how attitudes, norms, behaviors, responses to early life experiences, and protective factors influence pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection risks from the perspectives of current and former foster youth to inform the development of prevention strategies.We conducted semi-structured individual qualitative interviews with a diverse sample of 22 current/former foster youth aged 15-21 years (63% female; average age = 18.6 years). We then used Theoretical Thematic Analysis to systematically analyze the data for key themes related to sexual health in four categories: 1) norms and attitudes, 2) responses to early life experiences, 3) protective factors, and 4) youth-driven intervention ideas.Participants reported a range of sexual experience levels, varied sexual orientations, and also reported varied life experiences prior to and during foster care. We detected several norms and attitudes that likely contribute to risks of early pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. These included that one can tell by looking whether a partner is trustworthy or has a sexually transmitted infection, that condoms aren't necessary with long-term or infrequent partners or if birth control is used, and that teen pregnancy is an inevitable event. With respect to responses to early life experiences, youth frequently described difficulties dealing with strong emotions in the context of romantic and/or sexual relationships; many attributed these difficulties to early experiences with biological family members or in foster care. Participants linked emotion regulation difficulties with struggles in trust appraisal, effective communication, and impulsive behaviors. Youth also described a variety of protective factors that they felt helped them prevent sexual risk behaviors or improved their lives in other respects. Finally, participants endorsed factors likely to improve intervention acceptability and efficacy, including an open, non-judgmental group-based environment, involvement of peer mentors, and inclusion of caregiver and caseworker training components.Trauma-informed, tailored intervention strategies which address key norms and attitudes and provide broad-based assertiveness and emotion regulation skills are likely to be the most effective strategies to reduce risks of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens in foster care. Group-based interventions that involve peer mentors and caregiver and caseworker components may be especially acceptable and effective for teens in foster and/or kinship care.