Connect: An Attachment-Based and Trauma-Informed Program for Foster Parents of Teens

Trauma, disrupted attachments and mental health problems often present significant challenges for teens and their foster parents. Sensitive and responsive caregiving promotes attachment security and buffers the impact of these challenges. Few programs are tailored to helping foster parents of teens in understanding trauma and attachment. In this paper we describe the adaptation of and preliminary evaluation of Connect, an evidenced based, attachment-focused and trauma-informed parent program for foster parents of teens. Results show Connect for Foster Parents is associated with significant benefits for teens and their foster parents on par with findings for original Connect program.