{"id":149,"date":"2018-06-28T19:24:58","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T19:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/risemh\/?page_id=149"},"modified":"2018-06-28T19:40:51","modified_gmt":"2018-06-28T19:40:51","slug":"project-focus-effective-mental-health-practices-for-washingtons-foster-children","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/risemh\/project-focus-effective-mental-health-practices-for-washingtons-foster-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Focus: Effective Mental Health Practices for Washington\u2019s Foster Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

PI:<\/strong>\u00a0Eric Trupin, Ph.D.
\nCo-Investigators:<\/strong>\u00a0Shannon Dorsey, Ph.D., Suzanne Kerns, Ph.D., Eric Bruns, Ph.D.
\nFunding:<\/strong>\u00a0Paul G. Allen Foundation (2007 \u2013 2009)<\/p>\n

Youth living in foster care experience disproportionately high rates of mental health problems compared to other youth. Yet, research shows that many youth in foster care do not receive mental health treatment, or receive treatment that may not be effective1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Project Focus, a study funded by the Paul G. Allen Foundation, was implemented by the\u00a0Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy<\/a>\u00a0(PBHJP), in partnership with the\u00a0Children\u2019s Administration\u00a0of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The project focused on improving mental health clinicians\u2019 and Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) caseworkers\u2019 knowledge and utilization of evidence-based practices (EBP) by providing training and consultation to both groups and increasing the coordination of care. Caseworkers received training from clinical psychologists in:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Identification of mental health problems using available data and information;<\/li>\n
  2. Evidence-based health and mental health practices; and<\/li>\n
  3. Appropriate referrals for frequently occurring mental health problems of youth in foster care (e.g., disruptive behavior disorders, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, ADHD, depression).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    To increase community capacity for providing evidence-based treatments, Project Focus also involvef training and consultation for community clinicians who serve youth in foster care.<\/p>\n

    This project was closely aligned with the Washington State Legislature\u2019s\u00a0HB 1088\u00a0(establishing the Evidence-based Practice Institute) and the Braam Oversight Panel recommendations to implement best practices for youth in the foster care system.<\/p>\n

    The University of Washington evaluated a training and implementation model to assess the effectiveness of this project. Four DCFS offices were involved in the project: Two offices received training and project implementation immediately, with the other two offices serving as \u2018wait list control sites,\u2019 (received delayed implementation). Desired outcomes included increased knowledge and capabilities among DCFS staff and mental health clinicians, increased referrals to and provision of EBPs, and improved outcomes for youth (e.g., improved functioning, placement stability).<\/p>\n

    Referenced on the Web:<\/strong><\/p>\n