Fostering Healthy Futures for Preteens (FHF-P) is a preventative intervention for pre-adolescent children placed in out-of-home care due to child maltreatment. The intervention is delivered by a team consisting of group supervisors, group co-leaders and mentors. Two group facilitators deliver 90-minute weekly sessions to groups of 8 to 10 children for 30 weeks throughout the academic year. Each group session includes one hour of group skills-building activities and a 30-minute dinner. Children also receive individual mentoring for 2 to 4 hours on a weekly basis.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
9 to 11 years old
Group, Individual
Fostering Healthy Futures for Preteens (FHF-P) is a preventative intervention for pre-adolescent children placed in out-of-home care due to child maltreatment. Young people eligible for the intervention typically have a history of two or more adverse childhood experiences, including a substantiated experiences of abuse and neglect, homelessness, and a parental history of substance misuse, mental illness, or incarceration.
FHF-P is delivered by a team consisting of a group supervisor, skills group co-leader, and mentor. The group supervisor and group co-leader deliver 30 weekly sessions to groups of between 8 and 10 children, while each child received 2 to 4 hours a week of individual mentoring in parallel.
The skills group content follows a manualised curriculum that combines cognitive-behavioural strategies with activities designed to help children process experiences relating to their adverse childhood experiences. Topics covered include emotion recognition, problem-solving, anger management, cultural identity, change and loss, and resisting deviant peer pressure. Multicultural stories and activities are also integrated throughout. Each session includes one hour of skills-building and a 30-minute dinner. The group sessions can be delivered in a variety of venues, including schools and community centres.
Over the same time period, mentors work individually with children to reinforce the concepts covered in the group sessions, as well as provide more tailored support for specific challenges. A key aim is to use each young person’s strengths and interests to solve problems and identify opportunities for further growth in the school and community. The mentor and the young person also work together to develop goals for improvement and practise skills for achieving these goals. Recreational activities are used to facilitate a strong mentor–mentee relationship which is considered critical for the intervention’s effectiveness. Mentoring often takes place in the child’s home or convenient community venue.
9 to 11 years old
Pre-adolescent children placed in court-ordered social care due to maltreatment.
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Experiences of abuse and neglect and exposure to trauma substantially increase the risk of children having emotional and behavioural difficulties as they develop.
Science-based assumption
Social, cognitive, and behavioural skills can help young people manage the impact of a history of child maltreatment and reduce the risk of future behavioural and emotional difficulties.
Science-based assumption
Young people in out-of-home placement due to child maltreatment can benefit from skills aimed at building resilience and reducing the risk of emotional and behavioural problems.
Intervention
Young people learn how to:
Manage difficult emotions
Make responsible choices
Identify personal strengths and interests
Problem-solve to overcome personal challenges.
Short-term
The young person develops positive relationships with others
The young person is better able to manage difficult emotions
The young person is better able to problem-solve and make responsible choices.
Medium-term
The young person is at reduced risk of behavioural problems
The young person successfully attends school.
Long-term
The young persons is less likely to engage in antisocial or criminal activities
The young person is less likely to misuse substances
The young person is less likely to engage in risky or self-destructive behaviour.
Pre-adolescent children placed in court-ordered social care due to maltreatment.
FHF-P is delivered using skill groups and mentoring. Skill groups are delivered across 30 weeks for 1.5 hours per week during the academic year each by two group facilitators (clinicians and graduate student trainees) to eight to 10 children. Mentoring is delivered across 30 weeks on a one-to-one basis, lasting for two to four hours, between a graduate intern and each child.
Skills Groups. The groups follow a manualized curriculum that combines cognitive-behavioural strategies with activities designed to help children process experiences relating to ACEs. Topics covered include emotion recognition, problem solving, anger management, cultural identity, change and loss, and resisting deviant peer pressure.
Mentors work individually with children to 1) create positive relationships, 2) advocate for needed services, 3) help children generalize and practice skills learned in group, 4) engage children in educational, social, cultural, and recreational activities, and 5) promote positive future outlooks.
The intervention is delivered by three practitioners:
Practitioners receive eight to nine days of training and attend a yearly eight-hour booster training.
Practitioners are supervised by two clinical supervisors as well as a skills supervisor.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Heather Taussig
Organisation: Fostering Healthy Futures
Email address: heather.taussig@du.edu
Website: https://www.fosteringhealthyfutures.org/programs/preteen
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
Fostering Healthy Futures for Preteens (FHF-P) most rigorous evidence comes from a single RCT conducted in the United States consistent with Foundations’ Level 3 evidence strength criteria.
This study identified statistically significant reductions in FHF-P participants’ reports of problematic mental health symptoms immediately post-intervention compared to young people not receiving the intervention.
Ten years post-intervention, FHF-P young people were significantly less likely to report involvement in criminal behaviour in comparison to young people not receiving the intervention. These reports were corroborated by criminal records showing 15 to 30% fewer court charges for total and violent crimes for FHF-P youths at mid-adolescence in comparison to young people not receiving the intervention.
FHF-P can be described as evidence-based: it has evidence from at least one rigorously conducted RCT or QED demonstrating a statistically significant positive impact on at least one child outcome.
| Identified in search | 8 |
| Studies reviewed | 5 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 0 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 1 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 3 |
| Study design | RCT |
| Country | United States |
| Sample characteristics | 426 children between 9 and 11 years old who had been placed in out-of-home care due to maltreatment |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities |
|
| Population risk factors |
Children were being referred to social services on average 4.7 times.
|
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes | Six–10 months post intervention
One-year post-intervention
Long-term follow-up: when participants were between the ages of 18 and 22, around 10 years after the intervention
|
| Other outcomes | None |
| Study rating | 3 |
| Citations | Study 1a: Taussig, H. N., Dmitrieva, J., Garrido, E. F., Cooley, J. L. & Crites, E. (2021) Fostering Healthy Futures preventive intervention for children in foster care: Long-term delinquency outcomes from a randomized controlled trial. Prevention Science. 22 (8), 1120–1133. Study 1b: Taussig, H. N., Weiler, L. M., Garrido, E. F., Rhodes, T., Boat, A. & Fadell, M. (2019) A positive youth development approach to improving mental health outcomes for maltreated children in foster care: Replication and extension of an RCT of the Fostering Healthy Futures Program. American Journal of Community Psychology. 64 (3–4), 405–417. Study 1c: Taussig, H. N., Culhane, S. E., Garrido, E. & Knudtson, M. D. (2012) RCT of a mentoring and skills group program: Placement and permanency outcomes for foster youth. Pediatrics. 130 (1), e33–e39. |
No other studies were identified for FHF-P.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
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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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.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
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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