No. Parents who participate in KEEP have completed their state’s pre-service training requirements. KEEP is an additional support for the resource parents once they receive a placement. In all of our implementations so far, KEEP training has met the requirements for the resource parents’ mandated ongoing yearly training.
Q: How do you get resource parents to attend the groups?
Sessions are interactive and fun. In addition, resource/kin parent participation is incentivized. For example, in Oregon, each household receives $25 for each KEEP session they attend. In Tennessee, KEEP-certified foster homes receive an $1.50/day increase to their board rate. In some implementations, parents receive an additional bonus for graduating from a KEEP group.
Q: What are the requirements for graduating from KEEP?
In order to graduate, parents must complete at least 80% of the KEEP sessions. KEEP Group Leaders also offer make-up sessions for parents who miss a KEEP group session. The make-up sessions count towards that 80% attendance, but parents do not receive a weekly incentive for these home sessions.
Q: Do you offer childcare?
Yes. Sites that implement KEEP provide free childcare at the group location and snacks during the groups.
Q: Have you seen different outcomes for kinship and non-kinship families?
The baseline rates for disruption in kin and non-kin placements vary significantly. For example, in San Diego, the base rate for disruption in kin placements is about 9%, and 45-48% from non-relative placements. Therefore, for KEEP we see changes in disruption rates only for non-relative homes. However, data show reductions in the level of child problem behaviors and associated caregiver stress for both resource and kinship homes.
Q: Are kin and non-kin parents in same groups?
Yes, KEEP groups are a mix of kinship and non-relative parents. About 30% of overall participants in KEEP are kinship parents.
Q: Is there a supervision component?
Yes. Each KEEP session is recorded and uploaded to FIDO, our web-based fidelity system. KEEP Group Leaders fill out simple forms about attendance, engagement, and areas they want feedback on. The Parent Daily Report (PDR) is also uploaded to this system. Group leaders receive weekly coaching via videoconference and written feedback from a KEEP coach. Monthly reports are generated using FIDO data and are sent to sites and to system leaders (if applicable).
Q: Can you expand the model for older kids?
Yes. We have a program called KEEP SAFE that is designed for adolescents.
Q: What about timeline and costs?
We answer that question with a question: How many resource families to do you want to serve and on what timeline? This information determines how many groups you need to run and how many KEEP Group Leaders will need to be trained in order to set up a sustainable program.
Q: Have you done a cost-benefit analysis?
Not yet. NYC calculated that if they reduced disruptions by 17%, the program would be cost-neutral.
Q: Is remote KEEP available?
All KEEP sites have the option to provide both remote KEEP groups and in-person KEEP groups.