The effects of the KEEP foster parent training intervention on child externalizing and internalizing problems

Children in foster care are at risk for externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. The KEEP foster parent training intervention has been found to effectively reduce parental reports of daily child behavior problems. The aims of this investigation were to (a) examine the effectiveness of the KEEP intervention at reducing behavior problems among children in foster care, as assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), during implementation of the intervention by a community agency using a randomized design and (b) determine whether the intervention is effective at reducing internalizing forms of behavior problems. Foster and kinship families were randomly assigned to either the KEEP intervention or usual services. The KEEP intervention was delivered by a community agency. Child behavior problems were assessed via the CBCL at baseline and at the end of the intervention (4 months after baseline). Data from 310 foster and kinship families with children aged between 5 and 12 years were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. The KEEP intervention was effective at reducing the proportion of children in the borderline group for rule-breaking between baseline and follow-up. The intervention was also effective at reducing internalizing problems, as indicated by reductions in internalizing raw scores and the proportion of children in the borderline group over the course of the intervention. These findings suggest the KEEP intervention can provide foster parents with the tools to manage a broad range of behavior problems even as the intervention was delivered by a community agency.