Fostering Healthy Futures® for Preteens

Mental Health Supported

Fostering Healthy Futures® for Preteens (FHF-P) is a skills training and mentoring program. FHF-P is designed for children ages 9–11 with current or prior child welfare involvement due to maltreatment and one or more adverse childhood experiences.

 

The program is composed of two parts: group sessions and one-on-one mentoring. During group sessions, group leaders cover topics such as effective problem-solving, resisting negative peer pressure, anger management, emotion recognition, perspective taking, cultural identity, change and loss, healthy relationships, abuse prevention, and focusing on the future. During one-on-one sessions, mentors aim to help children identify strengths and challenges, provide support, practice social skills, advocate for needed services, and encourage their involvement in programs, activities, and relationships that capitalize on their strengths.


Fostering Healthy Futures® for Preteens is rated as a supported practice because at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.


Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Jun 2022


Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, the California Evidence Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, and the studies reviewed.


This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0

Target Population

FHF-P is designed for children ages 9–11 with current or previous child welfare involvement due to maltreatment and one or more adverse childhood experiences (e.g., exposure to violence; experiencing homelessness; parental substance use, mental illness, or incarceration).

Dosage

FHF-P is delivered over 30 weeks. Each week, children participate in a 90-minute group session and 2–4 hours of one-on-one mentoring. Group supervisors and group co-leaders deliver group sessions typically consisting of eight children. Each group session includes 1 hour of skill-building and a 30-minute dinner. Mentors meet individually with children.

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

FHF-P is delivered in community settings.

Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research

  • Community Center (e.g., religious or recreational facility)

Education, Certifications and Training

Group supervisors and group co-leaders lead group sessions and mentors deliver one-on-one mentoring. The program director or intern supervisor oversees daily operations and provides mentor training. Group supervisors must have a graduate degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and be licensed or license-eligible in their field of specialty with a minimum of 3 years clinical experience. Group co-leaders are typically graduate students working towards degrees in psychology, social work, or related fields. Mentors are typically graduate students in a behavioral health training program who receive course credit for their time. The program director or intern supervisor should be a licensed or license-eligible behavioral health provider with a minimum of 5 years clinical experience, including experience with youth who have emotional and behavioral challenges or who have experienced child maltreatment/child welfare involvement. They should also have experience supervising undergraduate/graduate students or clinicians.

Group co-leaders participate in a 6-hour orientation that teaches them about the FHF-P program, the target population, and the structure and content of the curriculum. They also meet biweekly with the group supervisor for 1–1.5 hours throughout the program for ongoing training. Group and intern supervisors participate in a 3-day pre-implementation training. They also participate in 2–3 hours of training and consultation per week throughout their first year of delivering the program. Mentors participate in a 3-day orientation that teaches them about child abuse and neglect, the child welfare system, the FHF-P program, and their roles and responsibilities. Each week, mentors attend seminars, and one hour each of individual and group supervision provided by the intern supervisor.

Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

The Preteen Skills Group Manual is implemented in conjunction with the Preteen Implementation and Mentor Orientation Manual.

Hettleman, D., Wertheimer, R., Holmberg, J., Gennerman-Schroeder, R., Hambrick, E., Malen, A., & Taussig, H. N. (2021). Fostering Healthy Futures for Preteens skills group manual. University of Colorado.

Taussig, H. N., Wertheimer, R., Raviv, T., Fireman, O., Malen, A., & Culhane, S. (2021). Fostering Healthy Futures for Preteens implementation and mentor orientation manual. University of Colorado.

Available languages

FHF-P materials are available in English.

Other supporting materials

About FHF

FHF Training Information

For More Information

Website: https://www.fosteringhealthyfutures.org/ 

Phone: (303) 871-2937

Contact form: https://www.fosteringhealthyfutures.org/contact


Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Results of Search and Review Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Fostering Healthy Futures® for Preteens
Identified in Search 2
Eligible for Review 1
Rated High 1
Rated Moderate 0
Rated Low 0
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm 0
Outcome Effect Size Effect Size more info
and Implied Percentile Effect Implied Percentile Effect more info
N of Studies (Findings) N of Participants Summary of Findings
Child permanency: Placement stability 0.50
19
1 (2) 110 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 1
Unfavorable: 0
Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning 0.19
7
1 (15) 519 Favorable: 5
No Effect: 10
Unfavorable: 0
Child well-being: Social functioning 0.15
5
1 (4) 143 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 4
Unfavorable: 0
Child well-being: Delinquent behavior -0.08
-3
1 (30) 421 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 24
Unfavorable: 6

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes for some outcomes were not able to be calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Outcome Effect Size Effect Size more info
and Implied Percentile Effect Implied Percentile Effect more info
N of Studies (Findings) N of Participants Summary of Findings Months after treatment
when outcome measured
Months after treatment when outcome measured more info
Child permanency: Placement stability 0.50
19
1 (2) 110 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 1
Unfavorable: 0
-
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (First 5 Cohorts, Open CWS Cases At Study Start Only) (Taussig, 2012 - Not conducted in a usual care or practice setting)
Placement Changes (Number) 0.25
10
- 110 - 12
Residential Treatment Center Placement (% With Any New Placement) 0.74 *
27
- 110 - 12
Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning 0.19
7
1 (15) 519 Favorable: 5
No Effect: 10
Unfavorable: 0
-
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (First 5 Cohorts, All Cases) (Taussig, 2010)
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children: Post-Traumatic Stress (Pilot Cohorts) 0.10
3
- 140 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children: Post-Traumatic Stress (Pilot Cohorts) 0.30
11
- 144 - 6
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children: Dissociation (Pilot Cohorts) 0.13
5
- 140 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children: Dissociation (Pilot Cohorts) 0.39 *
15
- 144 - 6
Mental Health Problems Factor Score (Pilot Cohorts) -0.07
-2
- 127 - 0
Mental Health Problems Factor Score (Pilot Cohorts) 0.51 *
19
- 132 - 6
Life Satisfaction Survey (Pilot Cohorts) 0.42 *
16
- 140 - 0
Life Satisfaction Survey (Pilot Cohorts) 0.14
5
- 143 - 6
Life Events and Coping Inventory: Negative Coping (Pilot Cohorts) -0.21
-8
- 143 - 6
Self-Perception Profile for Children: Global Self-Worth (Pilot Cohorts) 0.05
1
- 140 - 0
Self-Perception Profile for Children: Global Self-Worth (Pilot Cohorts) 0.19
7
- 143 - 6
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (All 10 Cohorts) (Taussig, 2019)
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children: Post-Traumatic Stress (All Cohorts) 0.18
7
- 375 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children: Dissociation (All Cohorts) 0.25 *
9
- 375 - 0
Mental Health Problems Factor Score (All Cohorts) 0.23 *
9
- 346 - 0
Life Satisfaction Survey (All Cohorts) 0.14
5
- 375 - 0
Child well-being: Social functioning 0.15
5
1 (4) 143 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 4
Unfavorable: 0
-
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (First 5 Cohorts, All Cases) (Taussig, 2010)
Self-Perception Profile for Children: Social Acceptance (Pilot Cohorts) 0.16
6
- 140 - 0
Self-Perception Profile for Children: Social Acceptance (Pilot Cohorts) 0.17
6
- 143 - 6
People in My Life – Short Form (Pilot Cohorts) 0.25
9
- 140 - 0
People in My Life – Short Form (Pilot Cohorts) 0.02
0
- 143 - 6
Child well-being: Delinquent behavior -0.08
-3
1 (30) 421 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 24
Unfavorable: 6
-
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (All 10 Cohorts) (Taussig, 2021)
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Total Delinquency -0.22 *
-8
- 378 - 6
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Total Delinquency -0.33 *
-13
- 357 - 24
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Total Delinquency -0.37 *
-14
- 161 - 72
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Non-Violent Delinquency -0.30 *
-11
- 378 - 6
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Non-Violent Delinquency -0.29 *
-11
- 357 - 24
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Non-Violent Delinquency -0.44 *
-16
- 161 - 72
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Violent Delinquency -0.11
-4
- 378 - 6
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Violent Delinquency -0.05
-2
- 357 - 24
Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey: Violent Delinquency -0.17
-6
- 161 - 72
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.08
-3
- 421 - 3
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.00
0
- 403 - 15
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.04
-1
- 400 - 27
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.07
2
- 391 - 39
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.00
0
- 372 - 51
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.15
-5
- 345 - 63
Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.13
5
- 341 - 75
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) Null
not calculated
- 421 - 3
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.06
-2
- 403 - 15
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.04
-1
- 403 - 27
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.05
1
- 391 - 39
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.00
0
- 372 - 51
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.11
-4
- 345 - 63
Non-Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.06
2
- 341 - 75
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.08
-3
- 421 - 3
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.12
4
- 403 - 15
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.09
3
- 400 - 27
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.12
-4
- 391 - 39
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.00
0
- 372 - 51
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) -0.10
-3
- 345 - 63
Violent Delinquency Charges in Past Year (Total Court-Reported) 0.13
5
- 341 - 75

*p <.05

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications. Effect sizes for some outcomes were not able to be calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.

Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.

The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtglobal.com.


The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.


For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.

Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings
Study Location Study Location more info Study Year Study Year more info Age or Grade-level Age or Grade-level more info Race, Ethnicity, Nationality Race, Ethnicity, Nationality more info Gender Gender more info Populations of Interest* Populations of Interest more info Household Socioeconomic Status Household Socioeconomic Status more info
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (First 5 Cohorts, Open CWS Cases At Study Start Only)
Characteristics of the Children and Youth
Denver, CO, USA 2002 Average age: 10 years; Age range: 9-11 years 54% Caucasian
46% Hispanic
35% African American
52% Male 100% Placed in any type of out-of-home care (e.g., foster care, kinship care, residential treatment); Maltreatment type: 76% Neglect-lack of supervision, 65% Emotional maltreatment, 50% Failure to provide, 34% Moral neglect (exposure to illegal activity), 33% Physical abuse, 15% Sexual abuse; 25% Any residential treatment center placement preintervention; 37% Prior episode of foster care; Baseline placement type: 56% Nonrelative foster care, 36% Kinship (i.e., relative) care, 8% Residential treatment center --
Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers
Denver, CO, USA 2002 -- -- -- 38% Mental illness;
20% Maltreatment history
--
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (First 5 Cohorts, All Cases)
Characteristics of the Children and Youth
Denver, CO, USA 2002 Average age: 10 years; Age range: 9-11 years 50% Hispanic
43% White
29% African American
51% Male Average time in foster care: 0.6 Years; Maltreatment type: 76% Lack-of-supervision neglect, 62% Emotional abuse, 49% Failure-to-provide neglect, 34% Moral neglect (exposure to illegal activity), 32% Physical abuse, 12% Sexual abuse --
Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers
Denver, CO, USA 2002 -- -- -- 65% Single-parent household;
38% Mental illness;
22% Maltreatment history
--
Study 13040 - Fostering Healthy Futures-Preteen vs. Treatment as Usual (All 10 Cohorts)
Characteristics of the Children and Youth
Denver Metropolitan Area, CO, USA 2002 Average age: 10 years; Age range: 9-11 years 52% Hispanic
51% Caucasian
28% African American
52% Male 100% Placed in any type of out-of-home care (e.g., foster care, kinship care, residential treatment) within preceding year; Maltreatment type: 83% Lack of supervision neglect, 63% Emotional abuse, 48% Failure to provide neglect, 28% Moral-legal maltreatment, 27% Physical abuse, 26% Educational neglect, 11% Sexual abuse; Placement type: 54% Kinship care, 42% Foster care, 4% Congregate care --
Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers
Denver Metropolitan Area, CO, USA 2002 -- -- -- 43% Mental illness;
19% Maltreatment history
--

“--” indicates information not reported in the study.


* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings. The Clearinghouse is currently seeking consultation from experts, including those with lived experience, and input from the public to enhance and improve the display.


Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.

Studies Rated High

Study 13040

Taussig, H. N., & Culhane, S. E. (2010). Impact of a mentoring and skills group program on mental health outcomes for maltreated children in foster care. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164(8), 739-746. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.124

Taussig, H. N., Culhane, S. E., Garrido, E., Knudtson, M. D., & Petrenko, C. L. M. (2013). Does severity of physical neglect moderate the impact of an efficacious preventive intervention for maltreated children in foster care? Child Maltreatment, 18(1), 56-64. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559512461397

Weiler, L. M., & Taussig, H. N. (2019). The moderating effect of risk exposure on an efficacious intervention for maltreated children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 48(Supp1), S194-S201. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2017.1295379

Taussig, H. N., Culhane, S. E., Garrido, E., & Knudtson, M. D. (2012). RCT of a mentoring and skill group program: Placement and permanency outcomes for foster youth. Pediatrics, 130(1), 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-3447

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. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12385

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, 1120-1133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01235-6

Weiler, L. M., Lee, S.-K., Zhang, J., Ausherbauer, K., Schwartz, S. E. O., Kanchewa, S. S., & Taussig, H. N. (2022). Mentoring children in foster care: Examining relationship histories as moderators of intervention impact on children's mental health and trauma symptoms. American Journal of Community Psychology, 69(1-2), 100-113. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12549

Some contrasts that received a moderate or high design and execution rating in this study were not from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2) [see Individual Study Findings section above for additional information on contrasts that did or did not meet this criterion]




Studies Not Eligible for Review

Study 13038

Taussig, H. N., Culhane, S. E., Raviv, T., Fitzpatrick, L. E. S., & Hodas, R. W. (2010). Mentoring children in foster care: Impact on graduate student mentors. Educational Horizons, 89(1), 17-32. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24839302/ 

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).