Intervention effects of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care Program for Preschoolers (MTFC-P) compared to Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) for young children with psychological problems.

Foster children experience psychological problems like attachment problems,
behavioral problems, anxiety, depression or a combination of these.

De Bascule provides two treatments for young foster children depending on
therapeutic foster care. Although the regular treatment, Treatment Foster Care
(TFC) increases the number of out of homeplacements, some children are in need
for a different approach. For these children de Bascule implemented
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC-P) in 2007.

Unlike in some foreign countries, in the Netherlands there is just a little
knowledge about treatment effects of MTFC-P and TGV. Aim is to study the
effectiveness of these treatments in the Netherlands.

Main goal of the present research is to study the surplus value of MTFC-P
compared to the regular TFC for young foster children with psychological
problems.

The study has a controlled and randomized design. A team of professionals
screens all children assigned for specialized foster care to see if they meet
the inclusion criteria (1). If considered eligible, all involved persons
receive information about the study, the regular and experimental treatment and
pre randomization. Persons in charge of the child also receive a form to object
to participation. In case of objection children can easily start with the
regular treatment, still authoritized persons receive information concerning
further research matters (move to step 4) (2). In order of attending in the
research participants receive a respondent number, which is already linked to a
treatment by the AMC Clinical Research Unit (3). A researcher will attend in
the first consult to further clarify research matters and inform the involved
person about the treatment they will receive. (4). After one week informed
consent will follow and the person in charge of the child is asked to
participate/give permission (5). Participants start TFC or MTFC-P (6).
The study contains four measurements. The first will be in four to six weeks
after start, the second is three months after commence, the third is six months
after and the last one is at about twelve months (end of treatment).

Treatment Foster Care (TFC)
TFC focuses on children with multiple out of homeplacements. TFC prepairs and
supports placements and helps to profile the problems within the foster family.
Aim of this treatment is to contibute to more permanent placements and decrease
the number of residential placements by guide and support.

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Preschoolers
This treatment provides intensive help to young children, parents and foster
parents. MTFC-P focusses on a positive parent-child interaction, positive
support and positive feedback towards the childs behavior. Through this
approach behavioral problems will decrease and a strong and safe base for a
healthy parent-child relationsship will be created.

No more risks are expected when participating in the research than assigned to
one of the treatment by the regular protocol.