Parents Research Articles

Mother’s Instinct? Biological Essentialism and Parents’ Involvement in Work and Childcare

AbstractDespite wide public support for gender equality in work and caregiving, family responsibilities are still divided predominantly along traditional gender lines. This study examined the role of biological essentialism in the division of family roles using a nationally representative sample of British parents with young children (N = 5,605). Both mothers’ and fathers’ essentialist beliefs about men’s and women’s innate ability to care for children were associated with a more traditional division of childcare tasks, more hours of childcare provided by the mother, and fewer hours of childcare provided by the father. When gender role attitudes were considered together with biological essentialism, only essentialism was a significant predictor of involvement in childcare. Finally, the results supported our predictions that the effect of biological essentialism is mediated through parents’ work hours, and that essentialism affects mothers’ and fathers’ involvement in work and childcare in opposite directions. Taken together, the findings suggest that essentialist beliefs are a key hindrance to greater gender equality because they motivate parents to divide roles according to traditional gender norms. These findings may be of particular interest to practitioners and policy makers interested in increasing fathers’ involvement in childcare, mothers’ participation in the labor force, and overall gender equality.

Penyuluhan Status Harta Waris Islam Terhadap Anak Angkat kepada Seluruh Civitas Universitas Sains Islam Malaysia

This Community Service (PKM) focuses on providing counseling about the legal status of adopted children's inheritance rights from their adoptive parents. An adopted child is a child whose rights have been transferred from the family environment and authority of the biological parents, legal guardians, or other persons responsible for caring for, educating and raising the child. The legal status of adopted children in the perspective of laws in Indonesia and Malaysia is legal, however it then becomes an issue when faced with their rights within the inheritance assets of their adoptive parents. In Islamic inheritance law, adopted children do not have legal power over inheritance rights from their adoptive parents, except through obligatory wills (wasiat wajibah). Meanwhile, in positive law, adopted children obtain equal status as biological children, so that adopted children can become heirs. This PKM program is carried out for all USIM civitas (lecturers, staff, employees, workers) in collaboration with the USIM Faroid Study Center. This PKM program aims to provide an understanding of the inheritance rights status of adopted children. This PKM program uses socialization, counseling, and mentoring methods.

Breaking the silence: A qualitative exploration of parental perspectives of children with Goldenhar Syndrome

BackgroundGoldenhar Syndrome is a rare congenital condition, typically characterized by craniofacial abnormalities and vertebral malformations. Due to its rare and complex nature, the etiology is unconfirmed, resulting in parental uncertainty and subsequent emotional sequelae. Clinical manifestations have been researched but few studies have explored parental wellbeing and Quality of Life (QoL). In this qualitative study, we explore parental views of the challenges and lived experience of raising a child with Goldenhar Syndrome. MethodsTen biological parents (five mothers and five fathers), recruited at the Goldenhar UK Conference, took part in audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews. Interviews explored emotional wellbeing, views surrounding causation, support accessed, challenges faced, experience of stigma and future outlooks. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed, and transcripts were subject to deductive and inductive coding. ResultsSeven themes were identified: support networks (Goldenhar UK), rollercoaster of emotion; gendered coping; uncertainty; societal reactions; coping with challenge and acceptance. ConclusionsThis is the first-time the life perspectives of parents, raising a child with Goldenhar Syndrome, have been explored via interviews. We have unearthed prominent issues that impact parental QoL including isolation and distress at the point of diagnosis, and throughout the multidisciplinary health journey. We have also established significant indicators of the ongoing QoL challenges faced by young people with Goldenhar Syndrome. Future work is underway exploring these issues further with teenagers, young people and adults with Goldenhar to develop a conceptual framework of their QoL. This will be used to develop a bespoke patient reported outcome (PRO) to give voice to the challenges children and young adults face during their medical journey.

Speaking up for the invisible minority: First-generation students in higher education.

A first-generation college student is typically defined as a student whose biological parent(s) or guardian(s) never attended college or who started but did not finish college. However, "first-generation" can represent diverse family education situations. The first-generation student community is a multifaceted, and intersectional group of individuals who frequently lack educational/financial resources to succeed and, consequently, require supportive environments with rigorous mentorship. However, first-generation students often do not make their identity as first-generation students known to others due to several psychosocial and academic factors. Therefore, they are often "invisible minorities" in higher education. In this paper, we describe the diverse family situations of first-generation students, further define "first-generation," and suggest five actions that first-generation trainees at the undergraduate/graduate stages can engage in to succeed in an academic climate. We also provide suggestions for mentors to accommodate first-generation students' unique experiences and equip them with tools to deliver intentional mentoring practices. We hope that this paper will help promote first-generation student success throughout the academic pipeline.

Caregiver report of social-emotional functioning in infants and young children after inflicted traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Social-emotional difficulties are common sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Children who have experienced inflicted TBI (iTBI) may be at increased risk for social-emotional problems due to the risk factors associated with both early neurologic injury and with child maltreatment. We characterized the associations among injury severity, caregiver type (i.e., biological parents, non-kinship, kinship), and child social-emotional functioning in 41 infants and young children who had sustained iTBI and were seen in a large, regional children’s hospital. This study was a retrospective analysis, utilizing data collected from the medical record as part of routine clinical care. Social-emotional functioning was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition. Children with more severe injuries were rated as having worse social-emotional functioning. Caregiver type was associated with child social-emotional scores, above and beyond injury and demographic predictors. Biological parents were more likely to report better social-emotional skills than non-kinship caregivers, with the pattern of results suggesting that rater bias plays a role in this difference. In order to ensure that children are accurately identified for supports, these relationships should be considered when interpreting caregiver report of social-emotional skills.

Heritability of nervous system tumors: a sibling-based design.

The contribution of genetic and environmental factors to susceptibility to nervous system tumors remains unclear. We performed a quantitative genetic study using a sibling design to estimate the heritability of nervous system tumors, as well as the proportion of the risk of these tumors, which is attributable to environmental factors. We conducted a population-based cohort study using Swedish National Register data. All individuals born in Sweden during 1950-2010 with available information on both biological parents were included. A Multi-Generation Register was used to identify family clusters, including both full- and half-siblings. Initially, one index person was randomly selected from each cluster containing only full siblings and one sibling was randomly assigned to this index person. Subsequently, within each of the remaining clusters of full- and half-siblings, an index person was randomly selected, and a half-sibling was randomly assigned to this index person. Among the randomly selected siblings, cases of nervous system tumors were identified using the cancer registry. Quantitative genetic models were used to estimate the proportion of the variance in nervous system tumors attributable to additive genetic factors, shared environment, and individual-specific environment. The heritability of nervous system tumors was estimated to be 29% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 19%-39%), while the contribution of the non-shared environment to the variance of nervous system tumors was estimated to be 71% (95% CI = 61%-81%). The shared environmental parameter was estimated as zero in the full model. The variation in susceptibility to nervous system tumors is predominantly attributable to non-shared environmental factors, followed by genetic factors.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

There is now a test to assess your genetic risk of developing opioid use disorder (see story, this page). We have questions. If you have a genetic risk, wouldn't you know this from your parents or other relatives? Or is this test mainly for people who don't know their own biological parents? Also, when was it discovered that the genetic risk of addiction is specific to only one type of substance? Do you think such a test would be useful in your practice? Please send answers to adawnewsletter@gmail.com.

Childhood trauma histories in men and women assessed by the childhood attachment and relational trauma screen (CARTS) and the global psychotrauma screen (GPS): Results from the global collaboration on traumatic stress (GC-TS)

BackgroundWhether there are biological sex differences in rates of childhood trauma exposure perpetrated by female versus male biological parents remains largely unknown. Moreover, the relative risk posed by various vulnerability factors for transdiagnostic mental health outcomes among females vs. males in adulthood has received insufficient attention. ObjectiveTo compare biological sex differences in the long-term impact of childhood abuse and neglect on transdiagnostic mental health outcomes, especially comparing the outcomes of childhood maltreatment perpetrated by biological mothers vs. fathers. Participants and setting3129 participants (2784 female [89 %]) were recruited online, the majority (82 %) of whom endorsed having a childhood trauma history and a high number of mental health problems. MethodsOnline surveys were administered. Specifically, the Childhood Attachment and Relational Trauma Screen (CARTS) was completed as a relationally-contextualized screening measure of both positive and traumatic-neglectful experiences during childhood, comparing severity of perpetration by male vs. female biological parents. Further, the Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS) was completed to assess the relative risk of five vulnerability factors, including childhood abuse and neglect, for long-term transdiagnostic mental health outcomes. Statistical analyses elucidate group differences between males and females primarily by way of t-tests and associated effect sizes (Cohen's d). ResultsBiological sex differences were shown for childhood maltreatment perpetration by male vs. female biological parents, wherein responses to CARTS showed that females reported that their biological mothers exhibited less positivity (d = 0.21), less attachment security (d = 0.22), more negative feelings toward them (d = 0.28), were more emotionally abusive (d = 0.17), and held more negative relational beliefs about them (d = 0.24). Comparably, males reported that their biological fathers were more physically abusive (d = 0.15) and that they held more negative relational beliefs toward their fathers (d = 0.25). Risk factors including having a history of childhood trauma and neglect were associated with transdiagnostic mental health problems among both females (d = 0.57) and males (d = 0.46), with other risk factors evidencing similar results. ConclusionsChildhood trauma and neglect is a risk factor for transdiagnostic mental health outcomes among both females and males, although the two biological sexes may exhibit different levels of risk of being maltreated by female and male biological parents. Specifically, females reported having more emotionally abusive biological mothers, while males reported having more physically abusive biological fathers.

Neural response to monetary and social rewards and familial risk for psychopathology in adolescent females.

Adolescence is a key developmental period for the emergence of psychopathology. Reward-related brain activity increases across adolescence and has been identified as a potential neurobiological mechanism of risk for different forms of psychopathology. The reward positivity (RewP) is an event-related potential component that indexes reward system activation and has been associated with both concurrent and family history of psychopathology. However, it is unclear whether the RewP is also associated with higher-order psychopathology subfactors and whether this relationship is present across different types of reward. In a sample of 193 adolescent females and a biological parent, the present study examined the association between adolescent and parental psychopathology subfactors and adolescent RewP to monetary and social reward. Results indicated that the adolescent and parental distress subfactors were negatively associated with the adolescent domain-general RewP. The adolescent and parental positive mood subfactors were negatively associated with the adolescent domain-general and domain-specific monetary RewP, respectively. Conversely, the adolescent and parental fear/obsessions subfactors were positively associated with the adolescent domain-general RewP. The associations between parental and adolescent psychopathology subfactors and the adolescent RewP were independent of each other. The RewP in adolescent females is associated with both concurrent and parental psychopathology symptoms, suggesting that it indexes both severity and risk for higher-order subfactors.

Upaya Pembina Panti Asuhan Dalam Mengatasi Kenakalan Remaja Di Panti Asuhan Aisyiyah Putri Bukittinggi

Juveniles between the ages of 12 and 21 who engage in activities that have the potential to harm others and cause a commotion in society are considered juvenile offenders. The purpose of this study is to know how what efforts should be taken by orphanage managers and coaches to overcome adolescent bad behavior is the purpose of this study. This study used a qualitative approach to collect data through observation, interviews, and documentation. The factors behind the bad behavior of adolescents start from the lack of parental discipline and the destruction of households which are the root of the problem of many children in orphanages. The results of this study make it clear that fostering religious knowledge is one way that can be done by caregivers and administrators of the Aisyiyah Putri Bukittinggi Orphanage to eradicate juvenile delinquency. Therefore, a person can behave better if he is more deeply immersed in his religion. The study's conclusion was that caregivers and orphanage coaches can take care of children without biological parents by acting in those roles. The orphanage strives to ensure that orphanage children get a good education to prevent juvenile crime that disturbs the surrounding community.

ОБРАЗ НАСТОЯЩЕГО И БУДУЩЕГО В ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯХ ПРИЕМНЫХ РОДИТЕЛЕЙ

Parenting is considered from the point of view of the co-being approach, which allows studying the family in the coordinates of: jointness, space and time. The conceptual model of adaptive parenting activity is presented, the sustainability of which is determined by the time perspective, including perceptions of interaction in the dyad “adaptive parent-adaptive child”. The purpose of the study was to examine adaptive parents' perceptions of time perspective. Forty adaptive parents (20 females and 20 males) and 41 biological parents (19 females and 22 males) participated in the study. To achieve the purpose of the study, the Motivational Inductors Method of J. Nütten in adaptation of A. D. Leontiev was used. The results revealed the peculiarities of adaptive parents' perspective on the future in comparison with biological parents, the former group relies predominantly on the near future. In the open present, adaptive parentstend toexpress orientation to psychological self-preservation, egoism, maximum aspiration and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs. In the near-term perspective, adaptive parents express the aspiration for the development of abilities, cognition and interest, in contrast to biological parents, focused to their professional activity and the child's studies. In the long term, adaptive parents are dominated by the importance of cognition and interest, achievement motivation, activity, orientation to learning activities (their own and the child's), while the biological parents' orientation to the child, to the development of character, personality traits, abilities and learning activities increases. Conclusions were drawn about adaptive parents' representation of the adaptive family image and the presence of a delayed life script. It was suggested that adaptive parents should be trained with emphasis on the development of skills of building a future perspective and the formation of a holistic image of their activities.

Эволюция технологий, правовых и моральных норм: последствия распространения молекулярно-генетических тестов на отцовство

Introduction: human use of new technologies leads and will lead to changes in the content of legal and moral norms. Today, despite the possibility of molecular genetic research, there remains legal presumption of paternity of the spouse, which indicates the expressed trust in the woman and the institution of family on the part of the state. Purpose: using interdisciplinary knowledge from the fields of anthropology, cognitive science, reproductive psychology, biology, genetics, to determine the factors and directions of the evolution of law and morality if the subjective right of a man to free genomic research at the birth of a child in a marriage becomes reflected in the law. Methods: inductive and deductive methods, analogy, legal dogmatics, phenomenological method, comparative law method, general scientific method of dialectics, forecasting, modeling. Results: abuse of a spouse’s trust in a marriage is at risk of being discovered, which is due to the increasing use of modern technologies. By postponing the discussion on the introduction into law of a man’s subjective right to free molecular genetic research at the birth of a child, society and the state are showing dubious humanism in relation to the child, his social and biological parents. Disclosure of the deception in the future may be associated with the inability for men who have not produced their genetic offspring to have children, and with psychological trauma for family members between whom attachment has formed. The possible results of the widespread use of molecular genetic testing technology to confirm paternity must be analyzed in conjunction with the consequences of the spread of contraception and artificial insemination. Conclusions: increased family stability may be a consequence of increasing trust in the chosen partner and the formation of the idea that adultery is unacceptable. The long-term consequences of the widespread use of genome research technologies will become visible as generations change and can lead to a complete denial of the need for strict rules of law and morality in this area, since the function of controlling sexual behavior will be delegated by society to machines. However, the significant role of social norms in this area may continue: the use of educational opportunities by society will ultimately prove decisive in the evolution of man, morality, and law.

Emerging Social Waqf Model for the Welfare of Pandemic Orphans

The increasing number of COVID-19 orphans in Malaysia poses an alarming threat to the socio-economic fabric of the nation. Hence, policymakers are confronted with this escalating dilemma, as the surging population of COVID-19 orphans could lead to a rise in problems, such as child sexual abuse, children dropping out of school and suicide. The pandemic of orphans as one of the hidden tragedies of COVID-19 has triggered the need for a sustainable social intervention that can guarantee the socio-economic protection and psycho-emotional care of orphans, especially in Muslim societies. Moreover, the reported number of orphans in the world is over 140 million children, with almost six million pandemic orphans arising from COVID-19 deaths across the globe. Recent studies also suggest that some of the children in orphanages in Malaysia are malnourished from skipping breakfast, lack dental care and even basic needs because of limited funding. Nevertheless, social waqf has been receiving significant attention as an Islamic social intervention to cater to vulnerable members of society. Studies have shown that Islamic religious institutions and organisations have been sustained through the waqf system. The enormity of the challenge posed by the COVID-19 orphans is such that some activists have been calling on the government to adopt the children into its social scheme. Overwhelmed by the socio-economic challenges arising from the pandemic, the government has also been appealing to private stakeholders to extend their social mission to the care of pandemic orphans. It also requires funding for individual families willing to provide care and protection for orphans. Hence, this highlights the need for an appropriate intervention to take care of the pandemic orphans. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of the potential of social waqf interventions for orphans’ care. Extensive desk research on the classical evidence of the socio-economic protection of orphans in Islam was detailed. The study explores the Islamic guidelines for fostering orphans through kafala (custody), for fostering orphans and children without biological parents. From the findings, the study proposed a Waqf model useful for providing social welfare intervention and adequate financial support for the sustainable care of orphans' needs through social workers, orphanages, foster care families, and further empowerment of orphans with needy single parents.

Prenatal maternal PTSD as a risk factor for offspring ADHD: A register-based Swedish cohort study of 553 766 children and their mothers.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable, though environmental factors also play a role. Prenatal maternal stress is suggested to be one such factor, including exposure to highly distressing events that could lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study is to investigate whether prenatal maternal PTSD is associated with offspring ADHD. A register-based retrospective cohort study linking 553766 children born in Sweden during 2006-2010 with their biological parents. Exposure: Prenatal PTSD. Outcome: Offspring ADHD. Logistic regression determined odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ADHD in the offspring. Adjustments were made for potential covariates, including single parenthood and possible indicators of heredity measured as parental ADHD and maternal mental disorders other than PTSD. Subpopulations, excluding children with indicators of heredity, were investigated separately. In the crude results, including all children, prenatal PTSD was associated with offspring ADHD (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.37-2.34). In children with indicators of heredity, the likelihood was partly explained by it. Among children without indicators of heredity, PTSD was associated with offspring ADHD (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.30-4.14), adjusted for confounders. Prenatal maternal PTSD is associated with offspring ADHD regardless of indicators of heredity, such as parental ADHD or maternal mental disorder other than PTSD. The association is partly explained by heredity and socioeconomic factors. If replicated in other populations, preferably using a sibling design, maternal PTSD could be identified as a risk factor for ADHD.

First evaluation of Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory for foster children in Japan.

Behavioral problems of foster children are an important issue for the maintenance of the foster care system, but they have not been adequately studied in Japan. We used the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) to investigate behavioral problems among foster children and to examine associated factors. Twenty-nine foster children and their foster parents and 479 non-foster children and parents were recruited for the foster and control groups, respectively. Both groups underwent statistical comparative analyses using data from their ECBI assessments. The ECBI has two scales: the Intensity Scale quantifies the severity of child behavioral problems, and the Problem Scale captures the caregiver's perceived difficulties handling each behavior. We conducted a retrospective investigation of the background of the foster parent-child pairs to explore potential causal relationships with behavioral problems. The mean intensity score for the foster group was significantly higher than that for the control group (p = 0.001). The mean problem scores for the foster group and the control group were not significantly different (p = 0.79). In the foster group, the retrospective investigation revealed two children with neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders, 17 with histories of abuse, and 10 with other issues. Intensity scores showed severe behavioral problems among foster children, perhaps caused by neurological disorders, abuse, parental mental health, or economic hardship. Problem scores showed no significant differences between groups. It can therefore be posited that foster parents might exhibit a more lenient parenting style when dealing with children who have a history of abuse by their biological parents.

Ectogenesis: understanding opportunities, implications, concerns, and ways forward

Ectogenesis is the practice of developing organisms in artificial settings, with applications that range from improving the outcomes of preterm babies to treating fertility issues. It was unveiled in 2017 and provides possibilities for both partial and full ectogenesis while sustaining fetal lambs with concepts like the biobag. Utilizing biobag artificial uteri, complete ectogenesis is the confinement of a woman’s pregnancy in an artificial womb from the inception of the embryonic stage to full gestation; while partial ectogenesis is the utilization of a biobag artificial uterus to continue gestation ex-utero. Ectogenesis may have advantages, but there are concerns about how it will affect children’s social and psychological development. It can benefit biological parenthood, newborn care, fetal therapy, maternal-fetal disputes, societal growth, reduce health risks, and alter cultural norms while promoting reproductive equity. Due to possible risks, rigorous research on human subjects is required before ectogenesis may be implemented. The paper seeks to provide a thorough study for society’s conversation and deliberation, examining its potential advantages as well as its technical, ethical, and regulatory elements.

Biological maturity vs. relative age: Independent impact on physical performance in male and female youth handball players.

Maturity status and relative age are two of the determining factors in talent development. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of biological maturity status and relative age on physical performance in young male and female handball players. The sample included 48 males (14.11 ± 1.17 years) and 41 females (14.25 ± 1.64 years) players from one Spanish professional handball academy. Anthropometric data (height, sitting height, body mass and self-reported biological parent heights) and physical performance data (CMJ, DJ, 20 m speed, T-test and throwing velocity) were collected. Biological maturity status was determined as the percentage of predicted adult height, while relative age was estimated in birth quartiles based on biennial age grouping (Q1-Q8). The results showed a positive correlation between maturity status and CMJ in male players (p < 0.01). Differences in CMJ performance according to maturity status were identified (p < 0.05), with higher jump heights being recorded especially in early maturing boys (p < 0.01) and first lines and wings (p < 0.05). The variance in CMJ test scores could be explained by the maturity status by 42.90% in U-15 (p < 0.05) and 72.60% in U-16 male players (p < 0.001). By contrast, no differences were found in girls (p > 0.05). Moreover, no relationships were found between relative age and indices of physical performance (p > 0.05). Overall, maturity status had greater impacts on the tests of physical performance than relative age. Stakeholders should monitor the maturity status of young handball players to avoid physical performance biases that do not allow them to develop their sporting potential.

EXAMINING LEGAL REGULATIONS OF THE SURROGACY INSTITUTION: A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK AND ONGOING CHALLENGES

This article examines the legal and ethical complexities of surrogacy, highlighting the need for consistent legal frameworks to protect the rights of all parties involved. Surrogacy, offering hope to individuals and couples facing infertility, also presents legal challenges due to varying international and national views on its legality and ethics. The absence of uniform laws leads to issues like „reproductive tourism,” where people seek surrogacy in countries with lenient regulations, potentially leading to exploitation due to economic disparities. A major concern is the determination of parental rights and legal parentage, often leading to disputes and emotional distress due to unclear laws. This lack of clarity necessitates definitive legislation to safeguard everyone involved in surrogacy arrangements. Additionally, the involvement of financial compensation raises questions about the commodification of reproduction and the ethical implications of paying for a child’s birth. The article stresses that surrogacy laws must be comprehensive and uniform to protect children’s rights, surrogates, and biological parents. It calls for a unified approach to regulation, addressing concerns of exploitation, commodification, and the potential use of surrogacy for child trafficking, ensuring that arrangements are voluntary, free from coercion, and ethically sound

ORPHANHOOD AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS OF SYRIAN CHILDREN IN TÜRKİYE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRE- AND POST-CONFLICT PERIODS (2006-2018)

This article examines how armed conflicts influence orphanhood and living arrangements of children and specifically compares Syrian orphan children’s living arrangements in the pre-conflict period in Syria and the post-conflict period in Türkiye by using the data of the 2006 Syrian Arab Republic Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (SMICS) and 2018 Türkiye Demographic and Health Survey Syrian Migrant Sample (TDHS-S). The study aims to understand the prevalence and magnitude of orphanhood among Syrian refugee children, to investigate the social consequences of orphanhood and to reveal how various living arrangements of orphaned Syrian children differ in pre- and post-conflict periods. The research employs a comparative analysis based on the descriptive statistics of two datasets. The results of the study indicate that orphanhood among Syrian children has increased in the post-conflict period for all age groups and both sexes. A key finding shows that paternal orphanhood is more prevalent in the post-conflict period among all orphanhood types with a 4.8%. The incidence of not living with a biological parent is highest for the 15-17 age group in Türkiye reaching 17%. The increase in percentages of working children, the general decline in school attendance ratios and high percentages in early marriages are other prominent findings observed in the post-conflict period.

Assessing Foster/Adoptive Parent Training Curriculum's Improvement of Resource Parent Knowledge and Skills

Purpose Caregiving for children in foster, kinship, and adoptive placements (hereon referred to as resource parenting) is a challenging role that requires unique knowledge and skills, but there is limited evidence for currently available trainings. The National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC) was recently developed with support from the US Children's Bureau. Methods Baseline and 6-month follow-up surveys from 540 resource parents receiving NTDC training and 409 receiving training-as-usual (propensity score matched; group assignment based on location) were compared on a variety of knowledge types and skills. Results NTDC parents had larger growth in trauma-informed parenting, potential to promote positive child development, and key resource parent knowledge from baseline to post-training. NTDC parent growth in receptivity to working with biological parents approached but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions NTDC offers promise as a new training resource for improving resource parent knowledge and skills.