Tailoring the Chicago Parent Program for Foster and Kinship Caregivers: a Mixed Methods Approach

There is a lack of evidence-based programs to support the prevention of child behavior problems designed specifically for foster and kinship caregivers from historically minoritized groups. Drawing on existing best-practice recommendations for tailoring interventions to new cultural and social contexts, this study evaluates initial evidence of the acceptability and feasibility of adapting the Chicago Parent Program (CPP) for foster and kinship care. An expert panel of foster and kinship caregivers, clinicians, and other professionals with experience in CPP and child welfare arenas was convened to review and adapt CPP materials in collaboration with researchers. The adapted program was then delivered to 12 foster and kinship caregivers, who completed surveys and qualitative interviews to provide feedback about the revised program. Caregiver satisfaction with the program was generally high. In interviews, caregivers emphasized that group sessions resonated with them (theme 1), that they appreciated the opportunity to connect with the program via mandated foster care clinic visits (theme 2), and that adapted components of the program delivery (theme 3), and materials (theme 4) were relevant. Caregivers also noted barriers with behavior management and logistical challenges that made it more difficult to attend regularly and complete practice assignments, which was reflected in reduced participation rates during the pilot. Overall, these findings suggest that careful and empirically driven adaptation to effective parent-focused prevention programs can be achieved for foster and kinship caregivers, leading to high potential impact for a population that has generally been under-resourced and experiences high need and mental health burden.