Journal of Children's Services

Parry, Sarah ; Weatherhead, Stephen

2014 Journal of Children's Services

doi: 10.1108/JCS-04-2014-0022

Purpose – Due to the emergence of rich personal narratives within recent research, the purpose of this paper is to review and to explore the experience of transition from care and consider how these accounts can inform care services. Design/methodology/approach – This meta-synthesis follows from several quantitative and mixed method reviews examining how young people experience aging out of the care system. Findings – Three themes emerged from an inductive analysis: navigation and resilience – an interrelated process; the psychological impact of survival; and complex relationship. Research limitations/implications – The findings of a meta-synthesis should not be over generalised and are at least partially influenced by the author's epistemological assumptions (Dixon-Woods et al. , 2006). However, a synthesis of this topic has the potential to provide greater insight into how transition can be experienced through the reconceptualising of the personal experiences across the studies reviewed (Erwin et al. , 2011). Practical implications – This synthesis discusses the themes; their relationship to existing research and policies, and suggestions for further exploration. The experience of transition is considered critically in terms of its often traumatic nature for the young person aging out of care but also the ways in which the experience itself can build essential resiliencies. Social implications – Reflections for clinical practice are discussed with importance placed upon systemic working, accommodating likely challenges and considering appropriate therapeutic approaches for the client group and their systems. Originality/value – No review thus far has qualitatively examined the narratives told by the young people emerging from care and how these narratives have been interpreted by the researchers who sought them (Hyde and Kammerer, 2009).

Finno-Velasquez, Megan ; L. Fettes, Danielle ; A. Aarons, Gregory ; S. Hurlburt, Michael

2014 Journal of Children's Services

doi: 10.1108/JCS-06-2014-0030

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of Latino clients following a naturalistic cultural adaptation made to SafeCare, an evidence-based home visiting intervention designed to address specific linguistic and cultural issues affecting the Latino community during implementation in San Diego County, California. Design/methodology/approach – Hierarchical linear models examined whether Latino clients experienced differences in perceptions of SafeCare delivery, working relationship with the home visitor and satisfaction with services when compared with non-Latino clients and whether language of service delivery and provider-client ethnic match were related to Latino clients’ experiences of the intervention. Findings – Overall, across several different dimensions, there was no decrement in experience with SafeCare for Latino clients compared to non-Latino ones, implying that adaptations made locally adequately engaged Latino and Spanish-speaking clients in services without compromising perceived adherence to the programme model. Research limitations/implications – Because this was a non-experimental study, conclusions could not be drawn as to whether the locally adapted SafeCare would fare better in Latino client ratings than SafeCare unadapted. However, the findings are important because they contradict concerns that EBPs may not be relevant to diverse client groups, and support the idea that when adaptations are made, it is possible to maintain adherence at the same level of adherence as when the programme is delivered in its non-adapted form. Originality/value – The study explicitly documents and generates knowledge around an organic adaptation made in a community to an evidence-based intervention for a client group about whom there has been documented concern regarding the relevance of and engagement in services.

Fawley-King, Kya ; Trask, Emily ; E. Calderón, Nancy ; A. Aarons, Gregory ; F. Garland, Ann

2014 Journal of Children's Services

doi: 10.1108/JCS-04-2014-0024

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation and adaptation of group Triple P, an evidence-based parenting intervention developed in Australia, for a Latina population living in the USA. Design/methodology/approach – Mothers with pre-school age children participated in the programme, which was offered by a community mental health agency. The final study sample consisted of 174 Latina mothers. Findings – Participation in group Triple P was associated with clinically significant improvements in maternal mental health, parenting styles, and child behaviour problems. Additionally, mothers reported high levels of satisfaction with the programme. Practical implications – Triple P is a promising intervention for Latina caregivers who are concerned about the behaviour of their young children. It can be implemented successfully into community-based mental health care systems. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine the applicability of Triple P to Latina caregivers.

Leung, Cynthia ; Fung, Barbara

2014 Journal of Children's Services

doi: 10.1108/JCS-04-2014-0026

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the needs and experiences of Chinese families where grandparents were involved in the non-custodial care of their grandchildren. Design/methodology/approach – In total five grandparent focus groups and three parent focus groups were conducted. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Findings – Though most grandparents enjoyed their grandparent roles, there were differences in the perception of the grandparent role between grandparents and parents. Both grandparents and parents reported intergenerational conflicts on the management of the grandchildren, which was distressing for both parties. Practical implications – It was suggested that grandparent training programmes might be a viable strategy to support families. Originality/value – The study provided insights into family dynamics in the context of grandparent caregiving, child development, as well as children's services.

Fossum, Sturla ; Kjøbli, John ; Britt Drugli, May ; Helge Handegård, Bjørn ; Mørch, Willy-Tore ; Ogden, Terje

2014 Journal of Children's Services

doi: 10.1108/JCS-04-2014-0021

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether the changes in externalising behaviour for young aggressive children differ between two evidence-based parent training (PT) programmes after treatment. The treatment formats between these programmes differ, and the authors were particularly interested in whether this influenced the results for participants with co-occurring problems (child variables such as heightened levels of attention and internalising problems, and parental variables such as marital status and education) and the consequent additional risk of poorer treatment outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – A comparison of the individual treatment programme “Parent Management Training – Oregon model” (PMTO) and the group intervention programme “The Incredible Years” (IY) basic training sessions. Outcomes were explored in matched samples from two earlier Norwegian replication studies. The participants were matched on pre-treatment characteristics using a quasi-experimental mis-matching procedure. Findings – There were no significant differences between the two interventions in parent ratings of externalising behaviours and the lack of differing effects between the two treatments remained when the co-occurring risk factors were introduced into the analyses. Research limitations/implications – The participants were matched on pre-treatment characteristics using a quasi-experimental mis-matching procedure. Practical implications – A possible implication of these findings is that parents should be allowed to choose the treatment format of their preference. Further, individual PT may be more appropriate in rural settings with difficulties in forming group interventions. Social implications – Treatment effects did not differ between these two evidence-based interventions. Originality/value – To the best of the knowledge independent comparisons of two evidence-based PT interventions are not previously conducted.