Let's Connect Fostering Communities

Retired Project
Foundations have chosen to retire the Let’s Connect Fostering Communities study, as it became clear that it could not meet its aims. Find out more:

Let’s Connect Fostering Communities

Summary

This protocol summarises plans for a pilot RCT of Let’s Connect, an intervention to improve the mental health and wellbeing of foster and kinship families.

Who, what, why and how?

Let’s Connect is a support programme developed by Barnardo’s, based on the Wellness Recovery Action Planning model (WRAP), which is delivered to foster/kinship communities, with the aim of improving the mental health and well-being of foster/kinship families.

WRAP helps participants to identify and understand their personal wellness resources and then to develop an individualised plan to use these resources on a daily basis to manage their mental health and wellbeing. WRAP will be delivered in the following group sizes:

  • Adults: three full-day sessions with a maximum of 16 participants
  • Foster children: 10-week sessions with maximum of 8 participants
  • Birth children: 10-week sessions with maximum of 12 participants.

We have commissioned Coram to conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial of the Let’s Connect programme in Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

The evaluation consists of three elements: a pilot impact evaluation, an implementation and process evaluation, and a cost analysis. The primary outcome for the pilot impact evaluation is foster/kinship carer wellbeing. Secondary outcomes include the wellbeing of children (as reported by carers), carer peer support networks, carers’ family relationships, and placement stability. The implementation and process evaluation will focus on the evidence of feasibility, fidelity, acceptability, and readiness for a full-scale trial.

Research Questions

The impact evaluation will look at the following research questions:

  • What impact does referring a family to WRAP, relative to usual support for the mental health and wellbeing of fostering and kinship care families, have on:
    • Carers’ wellbeing?
    • Carers’ perceived peer support as measured by the number of other foster or kinship carers a carer could ask for help if needed?
    • The mental health of children in fostering and kinship households, as reported by their carers?
    • Carers’ family relationships?
    • The rate of placement changes?

The implementation and process evaluation will look at the following research questions:

  • To what extent was the intervention implemented as intended compared to the activities detailed in the theory of change and logic model?
  • What is the experience of taking part in WRAP for (birth/foster/kinship) children and their carers?
  • What is the learning from introducing WRAP in the new context of the fostering and kinship community?

The cost evaluation will look at the following research question:

  • How much does it cost Barnardo’s and local authorities to introduce WRAP in the first year?

Delivery Partners

Barnardo's

Evaluation partners

Due Date

This project is due to be completed by November 2024.
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Cost ratings:

Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.

Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.

Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.

Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.

Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.

Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.

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Child Outcomes:

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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

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Evidence ratings:

Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.

Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.

Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.

Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.

Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.

Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.

Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.

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