Caregiver-relevant perspectives from a multi-stakeholder collaborative advisory board on adapting a child mental health intervention to be delivered in child-welfare settings

J Public Child Welf. 2021;15(3):318-340. doi: 10.1080/15548732.2020.1724238. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Abstract

Adapting evidence based mental health interventions (EBI) to be provided in child welfare (CW) settings by CW workers could reduce barriers to families receiving mental health care. In order to promote implementation success, the adaptation of EBIs should include the perspectives of those who deliver and those who receive the EBI. The following study uses qualitative methods to elicit and analyze caregiver-relevant perspectives and adaption recommendations from CW stakeholders about the 4Rs and 2Ss Strengthening Families Program, an EBI for youth disruptive behavior disorders, to be implemented in CW settings. Recommendations included adjusting curriculum to better fit the culture of recipients and conveying the importance of openness and respect to providers.

Keywords: adaptation; caregiver involvement; child welfare; evidence-based interventions; implementation; mental health services.