Fostering healthy futures: an innovative preventive intervention for preadolescent youth in out-of-home care.

ABSTRACT

Although we have not yet demonstrated empirically that the FHF program is effective in addressing mental health, behavioral, and academic issues among preadolescent youth placed in foster care, we believe we have a very promising model. We have successfully negotiated many challenges of conducting a RCT within a child welfare setting, in large part because of the collaboration and support of our community partners. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop more efficacious interventions, thereby reducing adverse life-course outcomes and promoting healthy futures, not only for youth in out-of-home care, but for all youth at risk.