KEEP Connecting Kin
The current study provides a unique opportunity to conduct a summative evaluation of the KEEP Connecting Kin (KEEP-CK) program by leveraging extant relationships with Oregon's Child Welfare System (CWS), Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP), and our community partners to address the needs of informal kinship families and the youth in their care. Specifically, a randomized "services-as-usual" (SAU) waitlist control design plus qualitative methods will be used to evaluate the immediate (post-intervention) and sustained (10 month) impacts of the KEEP-CK program on child, adult, and service utilization outcomes, and prevention of entry into the CWS.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  Informal kinship caregivers in Oregon are defined as relatives or fictive kin who are caring for children between the ages of 4 to 18 years outside of the child welfare system with no birth/step parent living in the home.  Exclusion Criteria:  Informal kinship caregivers in Oregon who have previously participated in a KEEP or KEEP-CK group, or have a partner living in their home who has previously participated in a KEEP or KEEP-CK group. Focal child is not between the ages of 4-18 years at the baseline assessment. Focal child has been adopted by the kinship parent at the baseline assessment. Focal child is not living with the kinship caregiver full time (e.g., babysitting/weekends/vacations) at the baseline assessment. Focal child is in child welfare at the baseline assessment. Focal child is living with the kinship caregiver in a certified foster home at the baseline assessment. Focal child has a developmental disability or delay that impairs their ability to be responsive to the parenting content of KEEP-CK. - HealthyVolunteers: No - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 4 Years - MaximumAge: 18 Years - StdAgeList: Child, Adult