Robert Flynn, Tim Aubry, MariePierre Paquet,

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Robert Flynn, Tim Aubry, Marie-Pierre Paquet,
Robyn MarquisSchool of Psychology Centre for
Research on Educational and Community
ServicesUniversity of Ottawa, Canada Care
Matters Transforming Lives - Improving
OutcomesJuly 7-9, 2008 - Keble College, Oxford,
UK
Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial to
Improve Educational Outcomes of Young People in
Out-of-Home Care
The RESP for Kids in Care Project is being
conducted by the Centre for Research on
Educational and Community Services, University of
Ottawa, Canada, funded in part by the Government
of Canada, Canada Education Savings Program.
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Outline

• ? Purpose funding of RESPs for Kids in Care
  Project
• ? Research on low educational achievement US,
  UK, Canada
• ? RESP for Kids in Care Project Methodology
• ? Hypothesis
• ? Participants
• ? Interventions
• ? Design
• ? Outcome measures
• ? Potential implications

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RESPs for Kids in Care Project (2007-2010)

• RESPs Registered Education Savings Plans
• Purposes
• Short-term Improve educational performance
• Long-term Increase participation in
  post-secondary education
• Funding
• 346,190 (2007-2010)
• From the Canada Education Savings Program, Human
  Resources and Social Development Canada

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Research on low educational achievement of young
people in care

• Research on problem examples
• USA Trout et al. (2008)
• UK Jackson (2007)
• Canada Flynn et al. (1998, 2004)
• Research on interventions Very limited
• Barth Ferguson (2004)
• Trout et al. (2008)

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Methodology of RESPs for Kids in Care Project

• Hypothesis
• Participants (target N 150)
• Young people in care (grades 4-7, ages 9-12)
• Foster parents or kinship caregivers (tutors)
• Interventions
• Control condition RESP (with orientation)
• Experimental condition RESP (with orientation)
  foster parent tutoring (using Maloneys 1998
  educational model and materials, based on direct
  instruction, precision teaching, behaviour
  management)

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Methodology of RESPs for Kids in Care Project
(contd) RCT Design
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Methodology of RESPs for Kids in Care Project
(contd)

• Standardized outcome measures
• Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT4) (Wilkinson
  Robertson, 2005)
• The Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised
  (Conners, 2001).
• 1-2 other brief behavioural measures
• Potential implications of project
• For educational attainment
• For behavioural improvement
• For wider application

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References

• Barth, R. P. Ferguson, C. (2004). Educational
  risks and interventions for children in foster
  care. Stockholm, Sweden Institute for
  Evidence-Based Social Work Practice. National
  Board of Health and Welfare.
• Bereiter, C., Kurland, M. (1981-1982). A
  constructive look at Follow Through results.
  Interchange, 12(1), 1-22.
• Conners, C. K. (2001). Conners Rating
  Scales-Revised (CRS-R). Toronto, ON Multi-Health
  Systems Inc.
• Flynn, R. J., Biro, C. (1998). Comparing
  developmental outcomes for children in care with
  those of other children in Canada. Children and
  Society, 12, 228-233.
• Flynn, R. J., Ghazal, H., Legault, L.,
  Vandermeulen, G., Petrick, S. (2004). Use of
  population measures and norms to identify
  resilient outcomes in young people in care An
  exploratory study. Child and Family Social Work,
  9, 65-79.
• Jackson, S. (2007). Progress at last? Adoption
  and Fostering, 31(1), 3-5.
• Maloney, M. (1998). Teach your children well A
  solution to some of North Americas educational
  problems. Belleville, ON QLC Educational
  Services.
• Trout, A. L., Hagaman, J., Casey, K., Reid, R.,
  Epstein, M. H. (2008). The academic status of
  children and youth in out-of-home care A review
  of the literature. Children and Youth Services
  Review, doiao.1016/ j.childyouth.2007.11.019.
• Wilkinson, G. S., Robertson, G. J. (2005). Wide
  Range Achievement Test 4 (WRAT4). Lutz, FL
  Psychological Assessment Resources.

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• For further information, please contact
• Marie-Pierre Paquet, Coordinator,
• RESPs for Kids in Care Project
• (mppaquet_at_uottawa.ca)
• [phone] ext. 8860