CourtCare Description
This is where we will insert a description of CourtCare that is understandable to youth and parents interested in the study.
Eligible participants include...
Youth in the Permanent Managing Conservatorship in Texas over the age of 8 and caregivers with foster youth under the age of 8. The youth's legal county must be located in Dallas or Houston, TX -- or surrounding counties. Your legal county is where your judge presides your case; this may or may not be your current county of residence.
What is being asked of me?
Eligible participants will undergo a consent and/or assent process with a member of the research team to ensure the individual can make an informed decision about their participation. After obtaining informed consent, the research team member will interview the youth or caregiver using standardized wellbeing assessments. Each interview will last about an hour. The research team will interview the participant every 6 months until the end of the study, or until the participant decides to leave the study, or until the youth exits foster care. The study will end in August 2028. Individual participants will receive a $30 gift card for each interview they complete.
This study is completely voluntary. You may leave the study at any point after consenting.
What are the benefits of the study?
While there are no proven immediate benefits from participating in this research study, CourtCare is one of very few studies that seeks to measure wellbeing among youth currently under the Permananent Managing Conservatorship of the state. The results of this study will inform future policy initiatives, judicial collaboration efforts, and guidance on addressing disability within the foster care system. Additionally, we hope that our results will improve outcomes for foster care children in the future.
Age Range Specifications
Depending on the child's developmental level or range of disability, the research team will collaborate with caregivers to ensure an appropriate interview method. For children 7 years old and under, the caregiver will be considered the research participant by default. This means that the caregiver will be interviewed as a representative for the child during the study. For children 8-11 years old, the research team will discuss with the caregiver about the child's developmental ability to answer interview questions on their own. For youth 12 and older who do not have intellectual or other developmental disability, they will be asked to complete an assent process.
What are the risks of participating in this study?
We understand that participating in a study can sound intimidating and confusing. The research team is dedicated to providing you all the information necessary to understand what the study is about, what is asked of you, and how your information will be used and stored. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or complaints for the research team.
Will my information be confidential?
Yes, but there are limits to confidentiality. The personal information you provide to us, such as your name, phone number, contact information, and wellbeing assessments will be de-identified and maintained confidential. However, should the caregiver or participant youth report abuse, neglect, or imminent harm of a minor, the research team is mandated to report this information to ensure the safety of the minor.
How will CourtCare use my information?
The information you provide to us will be used to maintain contact with you while you are an active participant. Your personal information will not be published, but our study will aggregate participant data in the final study to learn more about child foster care outcomes and wellbeing. Your information will be stored in a secure, encrypted databased approved by the University of Texas at Arlington and de-identified, which means that an identification number will be used in place of your name. Your information will be erased after a period of ____ years.
What other risks should I be aware of?
The assessment questions asked during interviews are similar to those asked in typical child welfare cases. However, some of the questions asked during the wellbeing assessments may produce psychological discomfort. Our research team consists of licensed social workers under the state of Texas, and we are trained to address instances of psychological stress, discomfort, and dysregulation. Interviews will stop in the event that an interviewee exhibits symptoms of dysregulation or stress.