Cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) to support parental contact for children in out-of-home care.

Suomi, A; Lucas, N; McArthur, M; Humphreys, C; Dobbins, T; Taplin, S

Cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) to support parental contact for children in out-of-home care.

Suomi, A Lucas, N McArthur, M Humphreys, C Dobbins, T Taplin, S

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Child abuse & neglect, 2020, 109, pp. 104708
Issue Date:: 2020-11

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Suomi, A
dc.contributor.author	Lucas, N
dc.contributor.author	McArthur, M
dc.contributor.author	Humphreys, C
dc.contributor.author	Dobbins, T
dc.contributor.author	Taplin, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8752-009X
dc.date.accessioned	2021-07-09T01:00:36Z
dc.date.available	2020-08-24
dc.date.available	2021-07-09T01:00:36Z
dc.date.issued	2020-11
dc.identifier.citation	Child abuse & neglect, 2020, 109, pp. 104708
dc.identifier.issn	0145-2134
dc.identifier.issn	1873-7757
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149858
dc.description.abstract	<h4>Background</h4>There is an identified need to improve the evidence-base in relation to contact visits for children in the out-of-home-care (OOHC) system, to ensure optimal outcomes.<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of this cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to test the effectiveness of a contact intervention for parents having supervised contact with children in long-term OOHC.<h4>Participants</h4>183 study children in 15 clusters (OOHC services) and their parent(s) were randomized to the intervention (8 clusters, 100 children) and control groups (7 clusters, 83 children) in three Australian jurisdictions.<h4>Setting</h4>The manualized intervention consisted of increasing the preparation and support provided by caseworkers to parents before and after their contact visits.<h4>Method</h4>Interviews were conducted with carers, parents and caseworkers of the study children at baseline and nine months post-randomization. Interviews included standardized assessment tools measuring child and adult wellbeing and relationships, carer and caseworker ability to support contact, and contact visit cancellations by the parent.<h4>Results</h4>Compared with controls, the intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses showed that fewer visits were cancelled by parents in the intervention group at follow-up (-10.27; 95 % CI: -17.04 to -3.50, p = .006). In addition, per-protocol (PP) analyses showed higher caseworker receptivity to contact (6.03; 95 % CI: 0.04-12.03, p = .04), and higher parent satisfaction with contact (7.41; 95 % CI: 0.70-14.11, p = .03) in the intervention group at follow-up.<h4>Conclusions</h4>While the intervention did not have an effect on child wellbeing, as measured by the SDQ, the trial reports significant positive findings and demonstrates the benefits of the kC kContact intervention in providing support to parents to attend contact visits. The findings of the current study provide an important contribution to knowledge in an area where few RCTs have been completed, notwithstanding the null findings.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Child abuse & neglect
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104708
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1602 Criminology, 1607 Social Work, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	Developmental & Child Psychology
dc.title	Cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) to support parental contact for children in out-of-home care.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	109
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1602 Criminology
utslib.for	1607 Social Work
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-07-09T01:00:34Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	109

Abstract:

Background

There is an identified need to improve the evidence-base in relation to contact visits for children in the out-of-home-care (OOHC) system, to ensure optimal outcomes.

Objective

The aim of this cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to test the effectiveness of a contact intervention for parents having supervised contact with children in long-term OOHC.

Participants

183 study children in 15 clusters (OOHC services) and their parent(s) were randomized to the intervention (8 clusters, 100 children) and control groups (7 clusters, 83 children) in three Australian jurisdictions.

Setting

The manualized intervention consisted of increasing the preparation and support provided by caseworkers to parents before and after their contact visits.

Method

Interviews were conducted with carers, parents and caseworkers of the study children at baseline and nine months post-randomization. Interviews included standardized assessment tools measuring child and adult wellbeing and relationships, carer and caseworker ability to support contact, and contact visit cancellations by the parent.

Results

Compared with controls, the intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses showed that fewer visits were cancelled by parents in the intervention group at follow-up (-10.27; 95 % CI: -17.04 to -3.50, p = .006). In addition, per-protocol (PP) analyses showed higher caseworker receptivity to contact (6.03; 95 % CI: 0.04-12.03, p = .04), and higher parent satisfaction with contact (7.41; 95 % CI: 0.70-14.11, p = .03) in the intervention group at follow-up.

Conclusions

While the intervention did not have an effect on child wellbeing, as measured by the SDQ, the trial reports significant positive findings and demonstrates the benefits of the kC kContact intervention in providing support to parents to attend contact visits. The findings of the current study provide an important contribution to knowledge in an area where few RCTs have been completed, notwithstanding the null findings.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149858