Building Capacity for Youth Mental Wellness: Family Navigator Model for Foster Parents

We will conduct a pilot RCT (n = 60) as a test of the FN+ Program feasibility and preliminary effectiveness to improve individual-level variables, relative to Attention Control (AC). The primary outcome will be increased foster parent activation (P-PAM-MH). Secondary outcomes include reduced barriers to treatment and perceived change in parent capacity to manage youth MH care. Randomization: We will use simple randomization to assign foster parents to condition. Foster parents (n=60) will be randomized to the either the FN+ or AC. We will pilot all randomization procedures including those designed to prevent allocation bias. Randomization will be conducted by a research analyst who is blind to hypotheses and is not involved in any other aspect of the study. The research analyst will only share the names and condition assignment with the FNs who do not know study aims or hypotheses and will keep research staff blinded to condition. The ACHW will conduct all outcome data and remain blind to condition. The ACHW will remain masked to treatment assignment until the trial is complete. Success in masking will be monitored using the Evaluator Masking Assessment upon the completion of each data collection time point for each parent. Inclusion and Exclusion criteria are the same as Aim 2 with the addition that any foster parent that participated in Aim 1 or 2 will be excluded from the RCT.