Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Craven, Patricia Ann
Author's Email Address	patriciacraven@healing-transitions.com
URN	etd-07112008-110736
Title	The Effectiveness of Transitional Group Therapy: Promoting Resiliency in Foster Children
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Family and Child Sciences, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Robert E Lee Committee Member
Keywords	Interventions Resiliency Play Therapy Group Therapy Foster Children Foster Care Research And Development
Date of Defense	2008-05-19
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract ABSTRACT There are currently over 500,000 children in foster care in the United States. Foster care places them at a high risk for immediate and long term psycho-social-educational problems. In an effort to prevent some of the immediate behavior problems in foster children, an innovative intervention referred to as Transitional Group Therapy (TGT) was developed. TGT combines developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions, psycho-education, and play therapy in a group milieu to facilitate resiliency. This study is the first phase of a best practices approach in which TGT was tested for its feasibility with 11 first-placement foster children, ages 6-11. Its research and development methodology employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. A challenge to the implementation of this program included systemic barriers to recruiting participants. Qualitative data and quantitative pre and post testing on the Child Behavior Checklist and the Behavior and Emotional Rating Scale offered promise of the TGT’S effectiveness. This preventive intervention in time may be viewed as providing a “shot in the arm” to instill resiliency in first-placement foster children to help them survive their experience.
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