Impact of Early Foster Care and Institutional Care on Development in Children Under 2 Years Old

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of early intervention on children placed in out-of-home care, focusing on their physical, cognitive, social, and brain development as well as psychiatric symptoms. This randomized control trial compares enhanced institutional care with high-quality foster care for young children removed from their families. The goal is to understand how these different care environments influence socioemotional development and behavioral and neural patterns of attention, cognition, and social cognition. Two groups of children will be studied one group will receive enhanced institutional care where caregivers undergo a training called Attachment Video Feedback Intervention AVI, involving 8 sessions over 8-9 weeks focused on positive interactions. The other group will be placed in foster care with foster parents who also receive training and support, including the VIPP caregiving training with 5 sessions over 6-8 weeks, and regular visits from social workers to monitor and support the placement. Participants will be assessed at baseline when entering care and followed up at 12, 24, and 36 months of age. Researchers will measure attachment security, brain activity through Alpha EEG power and connectivity, cognition, attachment disturbances, and competence. These evaluations include observing interactions, behavioral assessments, and neurophysiological measures to track development and psychiatric symptoms over time during the childs placement in care.

Early Institutionalization Intervention Impact Project