Improving the Well Being of At-Risk Families: Exploring Clients’ Perceptions of Preventative Services

Low income and working poor families are exposed to tremendous stressors, which in turn can impede their ability to care for their children (Dyk, 2004). In 2000, reports of abuse and/or neglect of over five million children were made to Child Protective Services (CPS) Agencies (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002). These families are often termed “at-risk” because of the possibility that the children could be placed in foster care. One prevention strategy used to help at-risk families is in-home family therapy. The Young Investigator Award through the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research (UKCPR) enabled me to qualitatively study in-home family therapy services from the perspectives of the families themselves. Specific objectives of this project were: (a) to include a graduate student in the study of low-income, at-risk families; (b) to examine client’s perspectives about the effectiveness of in-home family therapy; (c) to use the results of this study to inform larger scale quantitative investigations related to preventative treatment for at-risk, low-income families. This study explored the perceptions of 20 low-income and working poor families residing in Northeast Florida who have completed in-home family therapy services. Results indicate that although families unanimously expressed benefits of receiving in-home family therapy, they also found that the length of time services were provided was too brief to meet their long term needs. Families provided suggestions for the improvement of services. Implications for researchers and practitioners are provided

Signal processing and characterization of the audio evoked cortical response

The audio evoked cortical response to stimuli consisting of audio "clicks" of varied frequency was analyzed. Analysis of the encephalogram was accomplished through the use of a computer based signal processor which used signal averaging as the primary processing mode to produce a signal for analysis. A "unit response" wave form was identified and its relationship to the composite response to multiple stimuli was investigated. Using the unit response as a criterion with multiple audio click stimuli, concepts of initial reaction time and integrative processing were identified.http://archive.org/details/signalprocessing00mcweEnsign, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Sustained effectiveness of evidence-based parenting programs after the research trial ends

Despite ample evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of evidence-based parenting programs (EBPPs) within research-led environments, there is very little evidence of maintenance of effectiveness when programs are delivered as part of regular service provision. The present study examined the effectiveness of EBPPs provided during a period of sustained service-led implementation in comparison to research-led effectiveness evaluation. Data from 3706 parents who received EBPPs during sustained implementation by services were compared to data from 1390 parents who had participated in an earlier researcher-led effectiveness trial of a national roll-out of EBPPs in England. In both phases, parents completed measures of child behavior problems, parenting style and parental mental well-being prior to starting parenting programs (pre-test), at the end of the programs (post) and at 12-months follow up. Results from Generalized Estimating Equations controlling for potential covariates indicated significant improvements in child behavior problems during sustained implementation, similar to the effectiveness phase; significant improvements in parenting style which were larger than the effectiveness phase at 12-month follow up; and significant improvements in parental mental well- being. Our findings demonstrate effective maintenance of gains when EBPPs are provided as part of regular provision across a large sample of English parents. Successful long-term implementation should consider effectiveness of EBPPs across the population, given the large contextual changes that take place between researcher-led evaluations and service take-up. Our findings support the integration of EBPPs in public health approaches to addressing child behavior problems and parent well-being

The impact of continued contact with biological parents upon the mental health of children in foster care

This study examined depression and externalizing problems of children in foster care using a subsample of data (n = 362) from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Our findings indicated that more frequent contact with the biological mother was marginally associated with lower levels depression and significantly associated with lower externalizing problem behaviors. The association with externalizing problem behavior was significant even after controlling for gender and exposure to violence. Further, differences with regard to gender were revealed. Specifically, girls had higher depression scores than boys even after controlling for exposure to violence. Results suggest that supporting frequent, consistent, visitation may impact the levels of depression and externalizing programs children in foster care exhibit.Foster care Parent-child relationships Visitation