The effectiveness of keep toddler for supporting adoptive parents with children adopted from the child welfare system: a randomized control trial - this study evaluates the effectiveness of keeping…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the University of Texas at Arlington a $1,799,619 cooperative agreement on September 30, 2026, under the Adoption Opportunities program (CFDA 93.652) to evaluate the effectiveness of KEEP Toddler, an in-home, virtually delivered parent skill-based intervention for adoptive families with children ages 2–4.

The study employs a randomized controlled trial design across Region 3 of Texas (19 counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex). Researchers will recruit and randomly assign 280 adoptive families who have finalized adoption to either KEEP Toddler or a control condition. The KEEP Toddler intervention consists of 16 weekly 90-minute group sessions (6–12 parents per group) facilitated by two leaders, supplemented by weekly 10-minute individual phone calls for parent daily reporting on child behavior and caregiver stress. The control group receives weekly phone monitoring only. The study evaluates outcomes on child safety, adoption stability (dissolution), child behavioral/emotional/social functioning, parenting practices, and family functioning, with data collection at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups using standardized measures and administrative records.

The period of performance runs through September 29, 2030, with place of performance in Texas. The Adoption Opportunities program supports projects that eliminate barriers to adoption and provide permanent home environments for children from foster care, particularly those with special needs.

The effectiveness of keep toddler for supporting adoptive parents with children adopted from the child welfare system: a randomized control trial - this study evaluates the effectiveness of keeping parents supported and trained (keep) toddler on child safety, adoption stability (dissolution), child behavioral/emotional/social functioning, parenting practices, and family functioning. Keep toddler is an in-home parent skill-based program delivered virtually for adoptive families with children ages 2-4. The intervention consists of 16 weekly 90-minute group sessions (6-12 parents) facilitated by two leaders, plus weekly 10-minute individual phone calls for parent daily reporting on child behavior and caregiver stress. The study employs a randomized controlled trial with individual-level randomization in region 3 of texas (19 counties in the dallas-fort worth metroplex). A total of 280 adoptive families who have finalized adoption will be recruited and randomly assigned to either keep toddler or a control condition receiving weekly phone monitoring only. Data will be collected at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month, and 12-month follow-UPS using standardized measures and administrative records.