Completed Research Projects

Completed Projects

Foster Care during Early Childhood

Children who are in foster care often exhibit a variety of behavioral, emotional, and physiological problems. Some of the significant challenges they face include forming new attachment relationships and developing the ability to regulate their behavior and their physiological responses to stress. Because of the unique needs and experiences of this group of children, caregivers often find it difficult to ensure that children are provided with the nurturance and care they need in order to develop secure relationships while also providing children with the appropriate amount of behavioral supports so that they can learn to regulate their behavior.

In efforts to improve these children’s developmental outcomes, we assessed the efficacy of ABC among this population. Parents were randomly assigned to either receive ABC or to receive a control intervention of the same duration and frequency. We then followed up with the families annually until the children were 4-years-old. Children’s ability to regulate attention, behavior, and physiology were assessed throughout the study period.

Funding: National Institute of Mental Health R01 MH052135 award, “Specialized mental health services for toddlers in foster care.” Period of support: January 1, 2009-December 31, 2014.

Children Adopted Internationally

The number of children adopted internationally has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Children adopted from other countries may experience a variety of deficits in their pre-adoptive living situations including a lack of nutritious food, limited sensory experiences and inadequate support from and interaction with caregivers. As a result, some children experience a range of problems including inattention, deficits in inhibitory control, emotional difficulties, motor problems, and physical health problems. Although rapid gains are seen in some areas, other problems may persist in some children. Thus, it is critical that interventions be developed that address the specific issues faced by these children and their parents.

To address this gap, assessed the efficacy of ABC among families with young children who had lived in institutional care prior to adoption. Families were randomly assigned to either receive ABC or to receive a control intervention of the same duration and frequency. We then followed up with the families annually until the children were 4-years-old. Children’s ability to regulate attention, behavior, and physiology were assessed throughout the study period.

Funding: National Institute of Mental Health R01 MH084135 award, “Services for Children Adopted Internationally.” Period of support: January 1, 2009- December 31, 2014.