Mental Health Navigation for Foster Care Youth

(FCFN Trial)

Overseen By Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, MSc

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Non-English speaking, Impaired caregiver, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

124 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help foster care youth access and engage with mental health services more effectively. It tests a family-based mental health navigation program, which includes support via mobile health (mHealth) tools, to determine if it improves how young people initiate and continue treatment. The trial includes two groups: one receiving standard care first, followed by the family-based program, and another receiving only the family-based program. Youth aged 12-17, who speak English, are involved with the SF Unified Family Court, and have a supportive caregiver, might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative mental health solutions for foster care youth.

What prior data suggests that the family-based mental health navigation is safe for foster care youth?

Research shows that family-based mental health support, such as the Foster Care Family Navigator (FCFN), is generally safe for young people in foster care. This approach combines family assistance with mobile health tools to enhance mental health service use. Past studies have shown that this type of support is well-received. Participants reported no major negative effects, indicating its safety. Although exact safety numbers are unavailable, the absence of major issues in previous research suggests it is safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the family-based mental health navigation treatment because it offers a fresh approach to supporting foster care youth with mental health challenges. Unlike traditional methods that often rely on individual therapy or standard care practices, this treatment uses a family-based navigator intervention combined with mobile health (mHealth) practices. This combination aims to improve how quickly and effectively young people start and stay engaged in treatment. By involving family members and utilizing digital tools, this approach could lead to more personalized and accessible care for foster youth, potentially transforming how mental health care is delivered in this population.

What evidence suggests that the family-based mental health navigation is effective for improving mental health service engagement in foster care youth?

Research shows that programs assisting families in navigating mental health services can greatly benefit foster care youth. In this trial, participants may receive the Family-based mental health navigation intervention, which has improved mental health for teens in child welfare. This program helps families identify mental health issues and access appropriate services. Youth in these programs often experience better outcomes, such as returning home and avoiding further placements. These findings suggest this approach effectively supports the mental health of foster care youth. Alternatively, participants may initially receive standard care engagement practices before transitioning to the family-based navigator intervention. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Marina Tolou-Shams, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

UC San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking youth aged 12-17 who are involved in the San Francisco child welfare system and have a caregiver able to give consent. Participants must be open to services from SF DPH Foster Care Mental Health Clinic and have mobile phone access. Those without an English-speaking ability or with caregivers unable to consent due to impairment are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 12 and 17 years old.

I am a young person who speaks English.

Family has mobile phone access

Exclusion Criteria

Caregiver has impairment that would preclude providing informed consent

Unavailable guardian for consent

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Wait-list Period

Participants receive standard of care engagement practices and services-as-usual

4-8 weeks

Treatment

Family-based navigator intervention combined with mHealth practices to improve mental health treatment initiation and engagement

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for mental health service initiation and engagement post-treatment

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Family-based mental health navigation
• Standard of care engagement practices

Trial Overview The study tests a new approach called the Foster Care Family Navigator (FCFN), which uses family-based mental health navigation combined with mobile health technology, aiming to improve how young people start and continue with mental health services.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Family-based mental health navigation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Family-based navigator intervention combined with mHealth practices to improve mental health treatment initiation and engagement

Group II: Standard of care, then family-based mental health navigation Active Control 2 Interventions

During wait-list period receive standard of care engagement practices and services-as-usual, and after the wait-list period the participants receive the family-based navigator intervention combined with mHealth practices

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10523219/

A Family-Based Mental Health Navigator Intervention for ... This study aims to develop and test a foster care family navigator (FCFN) model to improve mental health service outcomes for CWI adolescents (aged 12-17 years ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740924001506

Feasibility and acceptability of a family navigator program ... This program is a promising approach to building capacity to recognize youth mental health symptoms and engage in services.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2515489/

Comparing Outcomes for Youth in Treatment Foster Care and ... Results found that group care youth were more likely to be favorably discharged, more likely to return home, and less likely to experience subsequent placement.

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04506437

Foster Care Mental Health Family Navigator (FCFN) Interventional Model Description: This is a dynamic wait-listed design in which the investigators will test a theory-driven family-based navigator treatment ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891524525001907

Integrated Healthcare for Youth in Foster Care: A Narrative ... Youth in foster care experience disproportionately high rates of chronic conditions, mental health challenges, and poorer health outcomes ...

6. vakids.org vakids.org/posts/new-report-10-year-data-snapshot-with-state-by-state-data-from-the-annie-e-casey-foundation-shows-kinship-care-has-remained-stagnant

NEW REPORT: 10-year Data Snapshot with State-by- ... Using data from the child welfare system across all 50 states and D.C. over a 10-year period to look at how placements for young people in foster care have ...

7. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/262196/foster-care-mental-health-family-navigator/

Foster Care Mental Health Family Navigator The study will demonstrate how a family-based navigator intervention combined with mHealth may lead to improved mental health treatment ...

8. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e45905

Focus Group Study With Child Welfare System Professionals The overall study aims to improve behavioral health outcomes and reduce housing instability among adolescent foster youth (aged 12-18 y) placed ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10208435/

Family, Mental Health, and Placement Outcomes of a Low ... This study assessed secondary outcomes of Connecting, a low-cost, self-directed, family-based prevention program for families with youth placed in their care.