Feasibility and Acceptability of a Trauma-Informed Behavioral Sleep Intervention for Young Children Placed in and Adopted from Foster Care.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of Sleep and Adjustment in Foster Environments for Toddlers and Preschoolers (SAFE-T), a brief trauma-informed behavioral sleep intervention for young children in and adopted from foster care. Specific aims were to 1) determine the feasibility of recruiting, enrolling, and retaining foster/adoptive caregivers/parents in a pilot randomized controlled trial of SAFE-T delivered via telehealth; 2) examine treatment credibility, expectancy, satisfaction, and adherence; and 3) obtain feedback from caregivers/parents regarding what they liked, disliked, and would recommend be changed. METHOD: N = 45 caregivers/parents of children aged 2-5 years were randomized to the SAFE-T intervention (n = 22) or an education control condition (n = 23). Caregivers/parents completed assessments at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Of 78 screened caregivers/parents, 67 were eligible and 45 were enrolled. In the SAFE-T group, 21/22 caregivers/parents completed all intervention sessions and the post-treatment assessment; in the control group, 20/23 completed the post-treatment assessment. Caregivers/parents who received SAFE-T reported higher post-treatment satisfaction than those in the control group, (p = .005, Hedges' g = 0.92). Caregivers'/parents' feedback regarding SAFE-T intervention content was favorable overall. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support SAFE-T delivered via telehealth as a feasible, acceptable, and satisfactory intervention among caregivers/parents of young children in and adopted from foster care. Future implementation studies in real-world settings (e.g. behavioral health clinics, foster care agencies) are warranted.