Child Welfare

This proposal responds to NIMH Objective 4.2.c to develop "decision-support tools and technologies that increase the effectiveness and continuous improvement of mental health interventions" by leveraging the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) policy opportunity. First, a web-based platform to host (a) a decision-support tool and (b) automated facilitation for group decisions with the tool will be developed with state partners' feedback. Next, decision makers leading their states' FFPSA quality improvement efforts will be engaged to pilot a decision-support intervention comprised of the tool and live or automated facilitation, and to evaluate the implementation quality of evidence-based programs adopted with the decision-support intervention.

Adolescents and young adults receiving child welfare services constitute a vulnerable population, with an overrepresentation of mental health issues and past trauma, often exacerbated by a difficult transition to independence. Current support focuses mainly on material needs, lacking specific interventions targeting psychological resilience. This study draws on literature demonstrating that the development of emotional skills and post-traumatic growth are major protective factors promoting psychosocial adaptation and mental health.