Session: Targeting Problem Behaviors among Urban, African American Children: The Promise of Family Connections (Research that Promotes Sustainability and (re)Builds Strengths (January 15 - 18, 2009))

Living in a poor, urban environment can increase problem behaviors among children. Urban African American youth represent a particularly high-risk group given that they are often concentrated in poor, violent neighborhoods and in low income households – socioeconomic factors that have been linked to mental health and other psychosocial problems (DHHS, 2001a; DHHS, 2001b; Farmer, Price, O'Neal, et al., 2004; Yung & Hammond, 1998). In addition, family influences (i.e., parenting behaviors, social support, and family structure) may increase negative behavioral outcomes among urban African American youth (Bussing, Zima, Gary, et al., 2003; Ghuman, Weist & Schafer, 1999; Griffin, Botvin, Scheier, et al., 2000). Early interventions hold great promise for redirecting the risk trajectories for this group (Ialongo, Werthamer, Kellam, et al., 1999; Loeber & Hay, 1997).

Proposed are three interrelated studies that explore behavior among African American children served by Family Connections (FC), a multi-faceted, community-based service program that uses prevention science principles and works predominately with African American families in their homes and in the context of their neighborhoods. The program works with families to increase protective factors, decrease risk factors, and achieve child safety and positive behavioral outcomes.

Original research about FC (DePanfilis & Dubowitz, 2005) demonstrated that families randomly assigned to receive 3- versus 9-months of intervention achieved positive improvements over time in protective factors (parenting attitudes, parenting competence, social support); diminished risk factors (parental depressive symptoms, parenting stress, life stress); and improved child safety (physical and psychological care of children) and behavior. A cost effectiveness analysis (DePanfilis, Dubowitz, & Kunz, 2008) indicated that the 9-month intervention was more cost effective (CE ratio = $276 vs. $337) in relation to improved unit changes in the child's behavior between baseline and follow-up.

In this Symposium, the first paper explores the relative importance of father involvement for children in relation to their behavior prior to receiving FC interventions. This exploratory study examined caregiver report of children's involvement with their fathers. Results suggest that father involvement was associated with less externalizing behaviors among children.

The second paper explores gender differences in child behavior changes over time, pre-and post-intervention. Results indicate that while behavior improved over time for both boys and girls across intervention time points, boys appeared to experience a larger decrease in internalizing and externalizing behaviors than girls.

The third paper explores differences in the presentation of child behavior prior to intervention between children living with their parents compared to children living with their grandparents and then further explores changes in behavior over time following FC intervention. Both groups showed decreased behavior over time.

Discussion across these papers will focus on the importance of tailoring interventions to the unique challenges and strengths of African American families and their children. In particular, the symposium will highlight the relative importance of father involvement, gender-sensitive intervention, and the special needs of grandparent headed families.