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An exploratory study of mental health interventions with infants and young children in foster care
- Authors:
- RUFF Saralyn C., AGUILAR Rosana M., CLAUSEN June Madsen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 19(3), 2016, pp.184-198.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Child maltreatment negatively affects the well-being and development of youth in the United States. Infants and young children are disproportionately affected in number and severity by abuse and neglect, yielding short- and long-term developmental challenges requiring the identification of research-informed, trauma-focused early interventions. This exploratory study examines 23 children who started mental health treatment at, or before, age 5. All children were removed from home for reasons of suspected abuse and neglect, placed into foster care, and provided long-term, relationship-based psychotherapy for an average of 3.35 years through A Home Within, a national nonprofit focused on the emotional health of foster children. Findings indicate substantial reductions in therapist-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, dissociative symptoms, self-injurious behavior, sleep problems, enuresis, school problems, conduct problems, sexualised behaviour, and aggression. These preliminary results support the benefits of early intervention, focused on relationships, with maltreated infants, toddlers, and pre-school children and call for additional research on interventions designed for, and utilised with, foster children. (Edited publisher abstract)